Martha* had never planned on becoming an entrepreneur. But as crises wracked her home country, she made the brave choice to launch a peanut butter enterprise, using her personal savings—$20—as the seed money. 

Martha didn’t have much equipment, and she had to pay someone to grind her peanuts. What she did have, however, was determination. Hope. The goal of building something that would bring stability.  

It was enough. 

Walking Alongside Women 

After a year in business, Martha connected with a local partner of Partners Worldwide. Their mission? To walk alongside vulnerable women and empower them to become leaders in the community. 

With a loan from our partner, she purchased a grinder to produce peanut butter herself. Through training and mentoring in personal finance, Martha integrated an accounting system into her business. She also learned marketing techniques and began professionally packaging her products to make them more appealing to customers.  

Every day, her confidence grew, and before long, Martha was equipped with everything she needed to take her business to the next level.  

Martha’s Dream 

Armed with business acumen and an attractive product, Martha pitched at local supermarkets—and successfully saw her product incorporated on store shelves! 

What began as a way to get by became a source for steady income and long-term opportunity. Four years later, Martha’s customer base continues to grow, affording her monthly sales of nearly $900. And while challenges persist, Martha has purchased a plot of land where she plans to build her dream home and grow her business into a nationwide product.  

This wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of people like you. Your support equips entrepreneurs like Martha with everything they need to overcome tough circumstances and bring hope to their communities. When we partner with entrepreneurs, we’re expanding opportunities in places with limited access to jobs, helping to restore dignity and build community strength. 

*Martha’s name has been changed for security