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Fighting poverty, Creating jobs

and Transforming lives by

empowering the poor in

developing countries using

innovative microcredit and savings

programs, business training and

spiritual development.

Five Talents’ Role

• Work with local church-based sponsors to design and develop micro-economic development programs.

• Provide training– Church partner training for micro credit program development and

management skills

– Entrepreneur training for saving, borrowing and building a business

• Facilitate formation of savings group networks.

• Provide funding for operations and loan capital.

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Five TalentsAnglican Response to World Poverty

• Commended at Lambeth Conference, 1998. (Resolution V.2f)

• Vision of Bishop Chiwanga of Mpwapwa, Tanzania.

• First donation made by George Carey

• Commended at Lambeth Conference, 1998. (Resolution V.2f)

• Vision of Bishop Chiwanga of Mpwapwa, Tanzania.

• First donation made by George Carey

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Projects all over the World

• Has funded more than $5 million in loan capital, business training and set-up costs.

• Worldwide, Five Talents programs have served more than 65,000 clients with a 120,000 loans given out (impacting more than one million lives), more than two-thirds of whom are women.

• Currently in 11 countries: Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Burundi, Myanmar.

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What makes Five Talents special?• A “philanthropic microfinance” organization.

– Relational in nature – “heart of a pastor: mind of a banker”

• Five Talents is based on Christian values.

– Inspired by the Parable – hard work, risk-taking, accountability.

• Five Talents reaches into high-risk areas.

– Working in post-conflict and disaster areas

• Five Talents works with the local church.

– Provide local presence, accountability, credibility and infrastructure.

A Creative Solution

• By taking a small loan of about $100, Joy was able to start a brick-making business in Uganda.

• She returned her investment four times within a year!

2 BASIC MODELS (Group-based)

• Credit-led– Traditional microfinance– External capital– Major cities and towns– Uganda, Peru, Indonesia, Philippines, India

• Savings-led– Many poor want a place to save money– Internal capital– Reaches rural areas/post conflict– Sudan, Myanmar, Burundi, India

Transformation in Peru

• Lidia said for most of her life she felt she had all she needed. However, after 4 children, she separated from her first husband and her second partner actually wanted to kill her, and abused her children. “I decided that God did not exist.”

• Due to her women friends in her loan group, she came to realize that God was her refuge and each of her children have given their lives to God. She says that when she began to working with the Five Talents program there was talk about God, she felt very full.

• “I am very grateful to work with ECLOF (and the Anglican Diocese) which addresses the spiritual aspects of our lives unlike other credit institutions. God has blessed us and we will never forget to always trust in Him for everything. He can do everything.”

Characteristics of Five Talents Programs• Based on groups as fundamental

building blocks– Mutual support and development– Fellowship– Shared accountability

• Early focus on savings culture– Handling money– Safety net– Source of capital

• Augment savings with small, short term loans

– Loans to individuals, but “guaranteed” by the group– $50 - $200– Short term (4 – 9 months)– Interest rates 2% - 4% per month– Increase loan size with demonstration of success

Cycle of Success

Program Development

Saving & Planning

RepaymentAnd Recycling

Group Formation

Lending & Mentoring

Spiritual Developmen

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Micro-credit fills a big Gap• 1.5 billion people without access to financial services• Microfinance is now reaching 180 million clients• Conventional aid has limited effectiveness• The poor want a safe place to save money• Micro-enterprise growth is cash-constrained

How Can You Help?

Pray

Pledge

Participate

“You gave me five talents, Look, I have

earned five more!”

Vienna Rotary has contributed to Kenya, Indonesia, Uganda over the years. Other area Rotary’s have contributed as well.

$10 is the average initial loan

$1000 = 10 loans

Community TransformationFrom individuals to families to communities