"These crises have laid bare the failures of our systems. It is time to do the hard things the right way."

A grant update by Rev. Fulgence Ndagijimana, after his visit to the Flaming Chalice cafe in Rwanda It is 7pm in Gikondo, Rwanda and the small café run by Burundian refugees is very busy. Two dozen people are seated in groups, chatting together. They seem to know one another, and they say hi as they pass one another. This evening, four people are serving. Isabelle is at the counter and she receives money as the men bring their orders and take the drinks and the brochette (piec

Grant update from Fulgence Ndagijimana, Flaming Chalice International Grant Name: Flaming Chalice Refugee Café 1. The purpose of our grant is: To support Burundian refugees in Rwanda to set up a café 2. Who has benefited from this project? Twelve people have DIRECTLY benefitted from the project because they work on the project and get an income at the end of every month. Thirty children and dependents have benefited indirectly.  Approximately 100 people shop from those places

2018 was a fantastic year for SIA globally! We partnered with 10 grassroots community organizations, further developed our Small Business Fund program in Kenya, shared our message at churches in the US, and brought in many new supporters. Before the year ends I wanted to countdown the best moments of the year with you! Count them down… 5. We received monthly donations from 23 donors (+ many more annual donations), expanding the sustainability of our work. Thank you! 4 of the

This Thanksgiving, as we each reflect on our blessings and the bounty we have, will you join me in also praying for the world? Below are five table graces incorporating prayers of thanks and prayers for service and justice. If you have a special Thanksgiving table grace, share it with us in the comments! May this Thanksgiving be a time to recommit ourselves to empowering others, living compassionately, and putting God’s Spirit into action through serving and praying for the w

What have you heard about the Democratic Republic of Congo? Maybe you know that it’s one of the places where the Spirit in Action Small Business Fund gives families the opportunity to expand their livelihood. Or maybe you’ve heard about the many women there who are raped in the ongoing conflict over minerals. Did you read that actor Ben Affleck is calling for a US envoy to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)? Perhaps you know the country as Zaire, as it was called 1971

As a SIA SBF Coordinator, Jacob receives a small stipend to cover office expenses associated with sending reports and keeping in touch with the SIA office, however, this amount is rarely enough to cover all costs. Before the gift of the laptop, Jacob had to travel a great distance and pay $1-3 USD/hour to use a computer at an internet cafe. As a result, his emails were brief and often a long time passed between our letters. The laptop greatly improved his experience. Now Jaco

I am always so impressed with how a $150 grant can not only give a family a chance to learn a skill or trade, but also improve their quality of life. In June, I received One-Year Reports from the ten Rwandan small businesses started with SIA Small Businesses Fund grants in 2008. These reports detail the progress of each business group under the guidance of Francois Hamuli, all of which are continuing to thrive and reinvest to expand their operations. Hamuli regularly visits t