About 90 percent of rural Nigerians rely on farming for their livelihood. So it is devastating for a family to have to mortgage their land – their source of food and income. Four years ago, Edidiong James Akpan (pictured below) and his family had to mortgage their land in order to buy food and meet their basic needs. Edidiong (22 years old), his sisters Nkereke (20) and Ufante (14), and his parents live together in the rural village of Mbiaso in southern Nigeria, which lacks

Women make mats in DR Congo. Spirit in Action Small Business Fund groups train together and work together. Each group of at least 3 people attend a training workshop including sessions on business management, recording keeping, and communication skills. At the end of the training and the first business cycle of three months these leaders report feeling more confident in all areas of their life. Also, when women have the opportunity to be in charge of their own business and ma