First Step Initiative

Mission

The mission of First Step Initiative is to empower the world’s poorest individuals to lift themselves out of poverty with dignity through access to capital, training and information.

First Step Initiative started as a pilot project a few years ago with an initial investment of $3,000. I used to send a small amount of money ($50 at a time) whenever I could and with time it amounted to $3,000. We used that capital to provide small loans to 60 poor entrepreneurial women who in turn, used the funds to start and grow their businesses. The success of these small business loans exceeded our expectations. We were encouraged and thrilled to hear how the women were able:

to feed their families,

provide shelter,

send all school age children to school and

provide clothing for their families.

The results of the project inspired us to capitalize on our success and expand our services to reach more people and help them transform their own lives. Our goal for 2007-2008 is to expand our reach and provide microfinancing opportunities to at least 300-400 women. And for the next five years we expect to reach 11,000 individuals impacting at least 66,000 people as a typical Congolese family comprises of six children.

First Step Initiative provides small collateral free loans ranging in size from $50-150 to start and grow businesses. These loans provide capital needed to:

1. Grow fruit, raise livestock,

2. Purchase fabric,
3. Operate salons,
4. Open stores,
5. And travel to markets where goods can be sold.

Although these loans may seem tiny, to the recipient they offer extraordinary value by generating income for food, housing, health care, and education for entire families.

First Step Initiative works to reach the poorest individual in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Katanga province/(the Lualaba region).

We work alongside poor entrepreneurs and provide loans required to finance their income generating activities to enable them to lift themselves out of poverty thereby improving their lives and the conditions of their families.

We facilitate lasting change by:

Strengthening the capacity for self-help
Providing access to capital, information and training
Helping our clients build strong social networks, resilient businesses and increase their profit margins.

Please click here to learn more about our work in this region.