Sara Albina Ramos Narváez is a participant in the Fuentes Libres program in Oaxaca, Mexico. She has 6 grown children and has lived in her community her whole life.
She found out about the Fuentes Libres community bank program two years ago and decided she wanted to participate. She has used her micro-loan to pay off her land, buy natural fertilizer, and harvest corn, beans, and gourds. With the income she makes from selling her produce, Sara repays her micro-loan, and she is proud to say that she has never missed a payment! She also puts money into savings every week and uses the rest of her earnings to buy food and other necessities.
She enjoys being a part of the Fuentes Libres program. She especially loves the Bible study, which has helped her in her day-to-day life. She has come to understand that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. She gives thanks to God for allowing her to be part of the group because she has learned to save and manage her money. She is also grateful for the relationships she has formed with other women, as they support one another with family members. She enjoys the community she has found there.
Renuka is the daughter of Gangubai Shinde. She is 17 years old and in the 12th grade. While Renuka was growing up, her mother was unable to homeschool her and she was also unable to afford the education fees to send her to school. Gangubai shared her concerns with the HCC staff, and HCC decided to help support Renuka’s education.
Lack of food security is a serious issue in many parts of the world, and the Central African Republic is one such place. CAR has been labeled by the U.N. as one of the 10 least developed countries in the world. Through CWR’s partnership with FRB (Foods Resource Bank) and CEFA (the Center for Experimentation and Training in Agriculture), located in Gamboula, CAR, individuals and families are being empowered to experiment with innovative approaches to farming that provide stability in farming and the raising of animals. 
Elizabeth was so excited about the recent tailoring training she received from the Evangelical Covenant Church of South Sudan that she named her baby “Sewing Machine.” Elizabeth is a widow who is using her new skills to sew clothing, which she then sells to merchants in the market. Forty-two widows have received tailoring training this year in the CWR funded Hope for Widows project.
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