Maria had just lost her husband and was left as the sole provider for her family. She had no money for the funeral and decided to build her husband’s coffin herself. Her late husband had been a carpenter, so she had access to tools and some materials. After the funeral, she came to D-MIRO and applied for a loan to buy more materials. She had successfully built her husband’s coffin and was convinced this could become her livelihood. Maria received a small loan, which she quickly repaid. In a short time, she became self-sufficient, supporting not only her children and family but also several employees in her small business.

Helping people secure an income to live on takes many forms in Mission Alliance. We have built several microfinance institutions, run savings and loan groups, provide guidance to entrepreneurs, and have many other projects you can read about.

For Mission Alliance, the goal is to lift people out of poverty. This has positive ripple effects for both individuals and society as a whole. But most importantly, it is about creating a more just world. It is about giving people dignity and autonomy—the ability to make their own choices and shape their own lives.

Maria is just one of thousands of examples we could highlight!

Written by Arnt Jerpstad, CEO of AMAS