Africa
Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya
Asia
Philippines, Cambodia, Laos
Latin America
Nicaragua, Haiti, Ecuador, Honduras
North America
United States
Africa
Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya
Partners Worldwide became active in Liberia through the dynamic relationship of Madison Square CRC congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia. The primary focus is the training, capacity building, and growth of local business initiatives. Over 900 businesses have been assisted and are currently being mentored.
Christian Entrepreneurs Association of Malawi (CHREAM)
CHREAM utilizes small and medium-sized businesses and professional people to eliminate poverty and advance the Kingdom of God. Through their calling and ordination in the market place, they are addressing the economic and spiritual needs of Malawi’s Christian Entrepreneurs.Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F)
This project involves over 100 farmers and 400 businesses in growing and developing their skills to increase business and productivity in the agricultural sector. Farmers are improving yield and food security through conservation farming techniques.Water Wins
This is exciting, integrated with community development, and has high impact. Throughout the past few years, there have been a total of 115 boreholes drilled, serving dozens of communities. Steve Buer Well Drilling out of Caledonia, Michigan, in cooperation with an affiliate group out of Zeeland, Michigan—headed by Doug Tubergen—plan, encourage, and make annual trips to bring more clean water to the people of Nigeria. Carolyn Wynstra from Lynden, WA is also engaging 20 congregations to support this work. Please check out www.waterwins.com for more information.Partners for Christian Empowerment in Nigeria (PCEN)
There are three active chapters within PCEN with 148 business members. Several have been active since 2003. In 2006 training for the structure, policies, procedures, and board members was implemented. We are developing a personal business profile for each business including an action plan, a stewardship goal, and a mentorship component.Uganda Affiliate
Partners Worldwide is establishing partnerships with two local affiliates of business and professional people in Uganda. These groups are partnered with North American counterparts to provide business consultation to the group and individual members. The affiliates are organizing individual small and medium businesses and enabling them to grow and develop professionally, spiritually and in stewardship. The establishment of Uganda affiliates will help members to more effectively collaborate, exchange ideas/skills, mentor younger entrepreneurs, and network with other businesspeople locally, regionally and internationally.Ox Plows for Former Conflict Zones
Due to conflict situations in the past, most farmers in many parts of Northern Uganda have lost their most valuable assets. One of the most valuable is oxen plows and the oxen to pull them. This project involves over 40 farmers. Each farmer is receiving one ox and will pair up with a neighbor to receive a plow. The oxen have been given on a loan basis and are being paid back with a small interest rate after three harvest periods. The farmers are receiving additional training on improved planting, high-yielding seed crops, and crop maintenance and storage techniques. It is anticipated that the farmers will be able to effectively increase their yields by over 200%.Uganda Amaranth Project
Amaranth is a unique plant that has an ability to thrive in very harsh growing conditions. A small group of farmers and an amaranth processor are working to grow and market amaranth in Uganda. They are partnered with a group of farmers from North America to grow this industry and provide income for the farmers, jobs in processing, and provide a nutritious food supplement for the local people.Christian Businesses with Integrity in Chipata, Zambia (CBI)
CBI’s mission is to help Christian businesspeople spiritually and to better interact with other businesses and neighbors through Christian business principles. The CBI group was initiated by five businesspeople in Chipata, Zambia in 2001. They came together using the guidelines of Partners Worldwide to set up their organization. They conduct training and mentoring for their members in areas such as accounting, marketing, budgeting, and leadership.Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F)
Farmers in Zambia are working together with farmers from Sunnyside, Washington and Food Resource Bank to improve the productivity of their farms. This includes crop rotation and the introduction of new varieties of soil-enriching plants and crops. In addition, training is provided to local farmers to insure that they improve their skills over the long term and have confidence in their abilities to change traditional methods of farming. The end result will be an adequate supply of food for their families and excess to sell in the local market.Christian Businesses with Integrity in Lusaka, Zambia (CBI)
This group of Christian businesspeople has come together for business training and mentoring. They organized and implemented a savings and loan program and began making loans in April of 2005.Villages of Hope
The Villages of Hope partnership is training young adult (18-25 years) orphans in commercial conservation farming and entrepreneurship, while being brought into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Graduates will gain ownership of their own land. Over 50 orphans have already been employed, providing sustainable income for over 120 additional orphans in their care. The Villages of Hope is one of the largest employers in the area, and is a catalyst for economic empowerment of over 300 families.
Investments for Africa (IFA)
IFA is a program designed to assist small-business owners, who were previously disadvantaged, to grow successful businesses by assisting them with access to credit and providing business mentoring. The program provides loan guarantees and mentoring. Investments for Africa envisions an economic environment where all people, who have the desire, the ideas, and the drive necessary to become business entrepreneurs, have equal access to capital markets.
Full-Scale Business Trust (FBT)
FBT is a savings and loan organization in the Mombassa area of Kenya which seeks to improve small and medium-size businesses and create employment. FBT has a membership of over 700 businesspeople, and creates an avenue for business owners to grow their businesses by the provision of loans, mentoring, networking, and encouragement.Kiberia Savings and Credit Initiative (KSCI)
KSCI offers loans to the micro-business owners of Kibera slum, near Nairobi, Kenya. The goal of KSCI is to share the love of Christ with entrepreneurs, create jobs and income opportunities for the poor in Kibera. Members, in groups of five or ten, guarantee each others' loan and use savings as security.New Horizons Business Group
New Horizon Business Group is located in Eldoret, Kenya. The business group that is being established will share the vision and mission of Partners Worldwide, sharing the love of Christ, growing businesses, creating jobs and income opportunities for the unemployed poor in Kenya.Christian Entrepreneurs Savings and Credit Society (CHESS)
CHESS is a savings and loan organization based in Kiambu, Kenya. CHESS offers matching loan funds, networking and mentoring. Over 500 new jobs have been created since its inception, and is assisting over 300 small-business owners improve their products and services.Kenya Investment Trust (KIT)
KIT offers loans and professional mentorship to small and medium businesses. These efforts promote the creation of jobs and provide income opportunities for the unemployed poor in Kenya, as well as supporting the Kenyan government's intent to strengthen the economy. KIT has over 20 members in their organization.Heritage of Faith Orphanage
The vision of Heritage of Faith and Hope Children Rehabilitation Centre is to accommodate as many street children and orphans as possible within the community. This orphanage is teaching them to live by Christian values and offers them education. The Heritage of Faith orphanage also welcomes children of HIV/AIDS victims.Reformed Institute of Theological Training (RITT)
The purpose of this project is to increase the capability of RITT to provide ordained pastors for their denomination. An additional goal is to provide training in improved agricultural techniques for spouses who accompany their husbands. This combination of pastors and trained spouses will meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the congregations.Computer Training Centers
Nine computer training centers in conjunction with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) have been set up where people can come to learn keyboarding and computer skills for a fee which is less than a commercial school charges. The partner organization is able to have an income-generating project which is self-sustaining. Now many people can take courses to learn keyboarding and computer applications. As a result, many young people have been able to find employment.
Asia
Philippines, Cambodia, Laos
Partners in Philippines
Evangelical Business Entrepreneurs for Social Transformation (EBEST)
The business affiliate called EBEST is providing Christian fellowship, mentoring relationships, as well as access to capital for small businesses. This is a growing partnership that continues to bring transformation to hundreds of individuals through job creation, mentoring, and access to capital.Partners in Cambodia
Partners Worldwide is in the process of initiating a new business partnership in Phnom Pehn with existing businesspeople working in “business as mission.”
Partners in Laos
Animal Husbandry in Laos
Several members of Partners Worldwide have begun communicating with an Animal Husbandry Project in southern Laos. It has been established to provide 1,200 piglets and one million Tilapia annually to sell to the local farmers to raise for food and income. This Partners Worldwide network is providing technical advice and mentoring via the Internet to expand this operation.
Latin America
Nicaragua, Haiti, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador
Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F)
Because many in Nicaragua are not privileged to own their own land they are forced to rent land or work for larger farmers. Farmers in Iowa understand the importance of owning land and the stability and security that comes with it. As a result, they started a Farmer-to-Farmer partnership and are purchasing large tracts of land in rural Nicaragua, subdividing it, and selling it to landless farmers. By addressing the problem of farmers with “no land and no capital,” the partnership has grown to 54 thriving farms on 260 acres.Now, the farmers are growing high value crops, exporting coffee, have put in water systems for their communities and are sending their children to school. Each year for the past four years the Iowa farmers have returned to work along side these new land owners, encouraging them in their shared language—a mutual love for the land.
Business-to-Business (B2B)
A group of Christian businesspeople from Michigan and Illinois have developed a partnership with NCN (Nicaraguan Christian Businesses) in Managua, Nicaragua. These two affiliates share a vision for growing businesses in Nicaragua that reflect the values of Christ. Through individual and group business mentoring together with access to capital, these businesspeople are working together to meet needs by creating jobs in Nicaragua.Haitian Partners for Christian Development
This group of about 50 Christian business and professional people in Port-au-Prince is committed to supporting each other and developing Christian business groups in cities all over Haiti. This mutual support is crucial since living in Haiti and being in business is especially difficult. In addition to developing these new affiliates, HPCD has also established a business incubator in Port-au-Prince where small businesses can grow while they share the costs of electricity, water, security and office equipment.Jerusalem S.A.
A business affiliate from Brookfield, Wisconsin has established a partnership with Jerusalem, S.A., a business group in Gonaives, Haiti that manages a number of different businesses. Their latest business is a block-making factory that employs 30 people. The group in Wisconsin provides business mentoring and training for the management of the Haiti group.Ecuador Partners for Christian Development (EPCD)
Business people from Michigan, California, and Ontario have come together to walk alongside a non-profit Christian organization based in Quito, Ecuador called Ecuador Partners for Christian Development (EPCD). Working together, they currently support 16 businesses through the EPCD revolving loan fund and many more through business and agricultural training. The vision of this partnership is to transform communities and promote reconciliation between the rich and poor populations in Ecuador, through small and medium business development, based on biblical principles and Christian values.Diaconia Nacional
This group is the social outreach arm of The Christian Reformed Church of Honduras. At this point in time the North American Affiliate of Partners Worldwide from Pella, Iowa, is walking alongside the income generation program of Diaconia Nacional, which has established credit unions in the areas where there are Christian Reformed churches. These credit unions are establishing a culture of saving by requiring their members to regularly save before receiving loans. Partners Worldwide is seeking to build on this foundation by actively working with women seeking to grow their businesses.Stewardship of Christian Ministries (SCM)
Stewardship of Christian Ministries (Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomia) works in Nueva Suyapa, an impoverished neighborhood outside of Tegucigalpa. For many years SCM has had community development programs in Nueva Suyapa, in the areas of education, healthcare, youth development and micro-credit. The North American Affiliate of Partners Worldwide from Pella, Iowa, has come alongside SCM to provide mentoring and support to the credit program, in order to help support some of the small and medium businesses that have grown out of the micro-credit program. www.mcmhn.org
Partners Worldwide has a small, yet growing, ministry of businesspeople involved in supporting each other and addressing poverty and unemployment in North American communities. In New Mexico, successful business-to-business mentoring relationships are creating businesses and jobs that are supporting families and transforming lives. In Michigan, entrepreneurs are coming together to see how to support each other, to mentor one another, and grow in “faith, ministry, and stewardship.”