Helping our partners become sustainable
E3’s dream is for our partner projects to begin to self-fund parts of their work through income-generating activities and local support. Some may even become completely self-sustaining, depending on their context and the potential in their community. E3 provides interest free loans to help partners start a business.
Independence from outside help gives dignity to all involved and shows that a community can stand on its own two feet and escape the cycle of poverty. It also means the projects are protected from changes in funding in the future.
We’re excited that the Pastors’ Economic Empowerment Project in Zambia achieved that very thing! It no longer needs financial support from E3. Pastors receive training and loans to set up small businesses to help support their families while they serve sacrificially in their local churches. As they pay back those loans, other pastors are able to join the project and they too will move out of income poverty.
Over the past few years, E3 interest free sustainability loans have enabled our partners to set up a range of businesses …
Mobile Mission Maintenance Zambia (MMMZ) built a cafeteria
Results: earning a good income as a café for students and venue for hire for church retreats.
Wider impact: MMMZ used some of the profits together with an E3 grant to enable 100 women in Ibenga to learn tailoring or start agriculture and pig farming businesses. The women had no hope and no purpose in life, but now they are respected, full of hope and their dignity has been restored.
Mountaineers for Christ (MFC) in Lesotho drilled a borehole for fresh water.
Results: It provides water for the school, boarding home, church and offices and the savings on water bills repaid the loan.
Wider impact: This is the first step towards MFC’s dream of setting up a water bottling business, which will generate a sustainable income to help run the ministry.
Zimele Wethu bought a flat for student rental in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Results: earning a good income from the rental.
Wider impact: The profit helps pay travel costs for staff visiting self-help groups across rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal Province, like the one pictured here. It’s a huge area so travel costs are high.
King’s Community Projects (KCP) offered loans to individuals in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Results: KCP’s ministry benefited by charging 10% interest on the loans, which was used to help fund its street ministry work (pictured here).
Wider impact: One beneficiary used his loan to contribute to a borehole, so his family now has access to fresh water. Another was able to pay for her son to go abroad for a professional sport opportunity and now he has been hired in the UK! Others used the loan for education fees.
Abrina Esther House domestic abuse shelter boosted its cake and perfume businesses.
Results: now generating more profit to help fund the shelter.
Wider impact: Pays for travel costs to court and hospital visits, community meetings to raise awareness about abuse and applications for protection orders. The businesses also provide skills training for the women at the shelter so they can earn money and be independent when they leave.
Paran Christian Ministries Durban used its E3-funded vehicle for Uber outside of ministry hours. Then in 2020 Paran bought a second vehicle with a loan.
Results: earning a good income to improve Paran’s financial sustainability and help set up new projects to help those in need.
Wider impact: James was the first driver and Emmanuel the second – both earned enough to buy their own cars and now run Uber businesses. Engels, a refugee from Burundi, is the current driver. He can now meet the basic needs of his family.
Sustainability loans
The loans are enabling our partners to set up a range of businesses, including a food van, Uber vehicles and Uber Eats deliveries, a bottled water business and a student cafeteria.
As our partners plan for this year and beyond, they are all considering ways to begin income-generating activities. It’s not just about the income, but also about training and equipping local people with skills to earn a living.
