I talk a lot about our Small Business Fund program. Today I’m reposting my (updated) FAQs about how it actually works! 1. What is the SIA...

Spirit in Action is expanding and strengthening our Small Business Fund network! I met Naomi Ayot when I was visiting Kampala, Uganda in...

Five small family businesses received $100 initial grants from Spirit in Action in March, 2015. These families live in Korogocho*, one of...

How far is it from Lilongwe, Malawi to Nairobi, Kenya? It doesn’t look so far on an ordinary map of Africa. But then, maps of Africa...

Thanksgiving is a good kick-off to the giving season. Each year it’s a time when co-workers, the church, the media, and families start...

One of the exciting new groups that SIA is partnering with this year is Progressive Volunteers, a Kenyan grassroots organization that...

“A time to renew our shared vision of working in the community so as to achieve a greater impact in alleviating poverty, and also share...

On Sunday morning, I shared donuts with fifteen kids aged 4-12 at my church. We were on a virtual trip to Malawi. Passports were stamped...

The SIA Board of Directors gathered last month for our semi-annual meeting. If the mention of a meeting makes your eyes glaze over, let...

[Above: A video snippet of Canaan’s speech; with Winkly Mahowe interpreting into the local language.] It was exactly a year ago that I...

Last week I highlighted the 5 most common businesses that Small Business Fund (SBF) grant recipients typically start. The groups received...

One of the unique parts of our SIA Small Business Fund program is that groups can start the business of their choice. We do not choose a...

Who’s that lady? Reader question! “I love the SIA newsletter. What is the story behind the pic of the beautiful woman with the lovely...

Finally! This week there was some great news about aid programs that really alleviate extreme poverty (less than $1.25/day). And – yay! –...

A year ago, the first preschool in Manyamula village was started with a Small Business Fund grant. Nellie, newly divorced, moved to...

Back in October 2012 I shared the success story of Hastings and Ruth Fuvu in Malawi. They had received a $150 Small Business Fund grant...

I often mention that when families are successful in their Small Business Fund businesses they begin to invest in burned bricks for their...

This group of women meet twice a week to weave mats together under the trees. “People laugh when you are going [to market with your...

Wambui is the local coordinator in Nairobi, Kenya. We spent a week together in July 2014 evaluating and improving our Small Business Fund...

We call our Small Business Fund grants “seed grants.” Sure, some of them may go to purchase actual seeds for family farms. The reason for...