|
|
|
Samaritan's Enterprise
|
Pygmy Project |
Medical Center
| Youth
Camp | Ray
of Hope | University
| Project Nehemiah
|
|
Samaritan's Enterprise MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SEMAP) |
|
|
"THE EFFECT OF VISION": That was the name of this
conference held in Limbe, Cameroon, West Africa
in 1998. It was organized by Bread For Life, to
bring practical training on how to start small businesses.
Bread For Life hopes to create job opportunities
through conferences like this. |
|
 |
- Our Samaritan Entrepreneurial Training component
consists of hours of classroom training through
Bread for Life's "Effect of Vision"
conferences and seminars. This seminars and
conferences offer sessions covering all facets
of operating a small business, e.g."Why
start a business?" "How to start a
business." How to write a business proposal."
"The Power and effect of vision."
"Ethics & Business" etc.
- Selected participants also receive one-on-one
technical assistance designed to produce a viable
business plan. A Bread For Life staff visits
regularly to access the business, interact with
the new entrepreneur and offer advise.
- After each training, a number of participants
are given access to a micro enterprise revolving
loan fund based on a number of criteria. So
far, BFL has given out a few thousand dollars
in benevolence help. Our policy was recently
changed from grants and benevolence funds to
interest free loans. We are building a revolving
account, that way, funds are returned and redistributed.
|
|
|
|
| "For
the needy shall not always be forgotten;
the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever."
Psalm 9:18
Did you know….
*160 million children are moderately or severely
malnourished
* About 110 million do not attend school
* Nearly 1.5 billion people live in poverty on
less than $1 a day
* 750 million people are unemployed;
* 750 million underemployed
* 1.5 billion people are without clean drinking
water
* 800 million have no access to health services
*35 million people suffer from HIV/AIDS.**
For over a decade now, many African countries
have been experiencing economic crises. The standard
of living has dropped drastically. Many countries
have seen their currency devalued and, in addition
to the devaluation, salaries have been reduced
to half. As a result, many families are unable
to afford basic necessities.
*United Nations Office of Public Information 2001
|
|
|
|
Samaritan's
Enterprise MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SEMAP)
was founded as a ministry of Bread For Life to alleviate
this conditions. To help the poorest of the poor
take their first step up out of a circle of poverty
by providing them with seed capital and business
training to help them start initiative to better
their lives. From its inception, our desire has
been to empower the most impoverished people realize
their potential and strengthen their communities
economically.. following the mission of Bread For
Life to help those it minister to in becoming spiritually,
socially and economically vibrant.
Samaritan's Enterprise Micro enterprise Assistance
Program (SEMAP) was designed to provide individuals
and groups with an opportunity to receive assistance
and acquire the skills necessary to operate, manage
and grow their own small scale business. We envision
doing this will reduce the circle of perpetual dependence
on western benevolence and help the local economy
and community. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
According to
a Jewish teaching on charity that I came across recently,
the highest form of "Tsedekah" (or charitable giving),
is helping someone become self-sufficient. The African
church is largely composed of hard-working people with
very limited job opportunities. Creating jobs means creating
small business. With your help, we can enable them to
become more than self-sufficient. We can help them fund
their own mission work to help their countrymen spiritually
and physically. Thus, our hope is to pass "Bread For Life"
on to them, so that they can pass it on to others.
We believe that in the process of giving and sharing,
the bread can be multiplied.
The Bible gives us an example of how the Lord can multiply
a small offering through the process of giving and sharing.
John Chapter 6:
5When Jesus looked up and
saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,
"Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in
mind what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages[1] would
not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother,
spoke up, 9"Here is a boy with five small barley
loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among
so many?"
This last verse asks a defeating question. In the same
way, the greatness of the need leads many to give up on
Africa-- as if giving is a hopeless endeavor. However,
Christ gives us hope in His ability:
10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
Did you notice how those who were initially helped then had an abundance
with which to
continue in the example of sharing? Why not join us in this wonderful
opportunity?
|
|
|
|
