Blog - Five Talents Five Talents gives women and men in the developing world the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty by accessing key financial services, including micro-loans, savings groups and business skills training. http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog Thu, 02 Nov 2017 14:26:18 +0000 Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management en-gb Reflections on my Trip to Burundi http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1119-reflections-on-my-trip-to-burundi http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1119-reflections-on-my-trip-to-burundi burundi-image

In June of 2017, I had the opportunity to visit Five Talents' programs in Burundi.

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) From The Field Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:49:35 +0000 Business Re:born http://www.fivetalents.org/how-we-work/stories-of-transformation/1117-business-reborn http://www.fivetalents.org/how-we-work/stories-of-transformation/1117-business-reborn mary-restaurant-small

South Sudan is in the midst of a great crisis. Inflation is at severe rates and nearly half of the country's population faces extreme food shortages.

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) Stories of Transformation Wed, 28 Jun 2017 10:49:23 +0000 The Power of Gado-Gado http://www.fivetalents.org/how-we-work/stories-of-transformation/1116-the-power-of-gado-gado http://www.fivetalents.org/how-we-work/stories-of-transformation/1116-the-power-of-gado-gado Wilayesi is a mother of three children from a poor community in Jakarta, Indonesia. For years, her family struggled to survive on her husband's limited income as a driver and her own informal food business of Gado-Gado. Since joining Five Talents, Wilayesi has learned how to save, plan, and grow her business. With access to community savings and loans, she's acquired new business assets and dramatically increased her family's income. Now she's able to employ another friend and support her daughter, the first in the family, to join university. Her husband no longer works late nights away from home and the family is stronger than ever. Learn more in this short interview with Wilayesi:

How has your business changed since you joined the Five Talents program?

Gado gado-small"Before I relied only on what my husband earned and a meager earning from selling snacks. [The business] barely covered expenses. . .Now I provide many more. I sell cakes, fried banana, and traditional food like Gado-Gado" (an Indonesian salad of steamed vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, boiled potato, fried tofu and tempeh, and rice wrapped in banana leaf, topped with a special peanut sauce).

What tool or asset did you purchase that changed your business?

"After adding more products to sell, I realized I needed a fridge to support the food business I am in. I set aside the proceeds as savings and bought a refrigerator. Then later my husband and I decided to buy a second-hand motorbike. . . Now it is easier for me to get around. I use it to buy the ingredients."

How has this tool helped your business?

"With the refrigerator I can save time as I do not have to go back and forth to the market. I can store them all in the fridge and that will last longer. The motorbike makes it easier for us to arrange for the trip. I can arrange the schedule myself at my convenience."

Wilayesi-smallWhat was the most helpful training you received?

"Training in money management and bookkeeping."

How has that training or new knowledge influenced you?

"I put [the training] into practice. I began to keep the record of cash flow from the Gado-gado food business. I am not the only one who runs Gado-Gado. Someone else joined me [as an employee] and together we do it. That is why we need to know exactly our day-to-day proceeds in detail."

How have the changes you have made affected your family?

"With the additional income we earn, my husband does not have to drive the passengers out of town away from home (He used to do that). Now he has more time to spend with us. . .Now my daughter is studying at campus and [I have] money to cover daily expenses."

Learn more about Five Talents work in Indonesia with GERHATI.

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) Stories of Transformation Tue, 20 Jun 2017 08:15:32 +0000 Graduation and the Path to Success http://www.fivetalents.org/graduation http://www.fivetalents.org/graduation bible-teaching2

Amazing how graduation creates opportunities for the poor:

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) From The Field Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:49:09 +0000 Leadership and Peace in South Sudan http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1114-a-new-archbishop-in-wau http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1114-a-new-archbishop-in-wau bishop-moses2

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) From The Field Thu, 25 May 2017 14:03:04 +0000 Celebrate Mother's Day with Five Talents http://www.fivetalents.org/mothers-day http://www.fivetalents.org/mothers-day This Mother's Day, Five Talents honors moms who make a difference. 

Here's a special poem we wrote and a bible verse you can share with your mom.

Be sure to check out our video series on how moms are dealing with hardship, sharing hope, and building peace in one of the world's most challenging contexts.

And here is a heartfelt and earnest appeal to support mothers in need:

When you make a gift to Five Talents, not only do you honor your mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or friend, but you'll also help to transform the life of a woman in a developing country.

DonateFP

P.S. in case you missed it, check out our special edition Mother's Day newsletter. 

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) General Thu, 11 May 2017 15:03:20 +0000 When Moms Make Peace http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1112-mothers-peace http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1112-mothers-peace Moms-Make-Peace-small

In the world's most fragile state, mothers are at the forefront of building peace.

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) From The Field Thu, 11 May 2017 05:00:00 +0000 A Mother's Hope: The Power of the Gospel http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1110-mothers-hope http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1110-mothers-hope mothers-hope-small

What does it mean to meet Jesus among the poor?

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) From The Field Mon, 08 May 2017 05:00:00 +0000 A Mother's Life: The Plight of Women in South Sudan http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1109-mothers-life http://www.fivetalents.org/media-center/blog/32-from-the-field/1109-mothers-life A-Mothers-Life-small

What is life like for moms in the world's most fragile state?

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) From The Field Tue, 02 May 2017 20:18:35 +0000 A Mother’s Harvest: The Power of Village Savings in South Sudan http://www.fivetalents.org/how-we-work/stories-of-transformation/1102-mothers-harvest http://www.fivetalents.org/how-we-work/stories-of-transformation/1102-mothers-harvest akook-family-small

Abandoned by her husband, Akook was the only breadwinner in her family.

]]> davidchaves@fivetalents.org (David Chaves) Stories of Transformation Thu, 06 Apr 2017 14:44:13 +0000