Stories
Our Stories
Each individual we serve has a story, a unique journey toward hope. Read about the lives transformed by Opportunity for Hope’s initiatives, These stories are a testament to the power of community and generosity.
Video Testimonies
Fundiswa
Dineo
Landise
Zolani
Tanatswa
Boneface Shoes
Areas Of Impact
South Africa
O4H began working in South Africa in the summer of 2014 with the help of Africa for Christ and the Sieberhagen family. The goal is to reach into the poorest communities to help improve personal and family situations through economic empowerment. We are pursuing both individual and group loans to broaden our impact and reach. Through this, families may experience the love of Christ for the first time. This is our biggest program to date. We are currently partnering with Africa for Christ and Khanyisa Credit who run the day to day operations.
South Africa – Active Program
Dollars Donated: $90,380
Dollars Loaned:
Total Loans Made:
Families Impacted:
Gospel Presented:
Malawi
We partnered with Peace Ministries in Malawi South Africa. The program director is Crosby Phiri. He has a degree in economics and is also working as the Commissioner of Taxes with the Malawi Revenue Authority. He has also been involved with training with Farming God’s Way, which is a training program offered by our South Africa Team. This program was a test program and was not continued due to adverse economic conditions.
Malawi South Africa – Pilot
Dollars Donated: $2,500
Dollars Loaned: $1,656 ($138 average)
Total Loans Made: 51 applications – 12 loans made
Zimbabwe
We partner with Chamuel Hope of Fund Trust in Zimbabwe. They are working in high density suburbs in the area of the capital city of Harare making loans to small entrepreneurs. Current clients include: fruit and vegetable vendors, small retailers, peanut butter producers, flea market cloth sales and carpenters. The Trust has 2 employees and they have gained a good reputation with with small book of loans that they have made so far. They have begun sharing the Word of God their clients and training them on financial literacy, including record keeping and cashflow management. Inflation in Zimbabwe is extremely high. In recent months costs have doubled. This life-changing for these small entrepreneurs who otherwise don’t qualify for bank financing.
Zimbabwe South Africa – Pilot, now becoming an established program.
Dollars Donated: $16,000
Dollars Loaned: $59,145
Total Loans Made: 331
Families Impacted: 660
Gospel Presentations: 800
Honduras
Our first program in Choluteca Honduras started in 2008 in an effort to assist the poorest of the poor in Choluteca which had sustained incredible damage from Hurricane Mitch. Since it’s inception, the program has provided over 800 micro enterprise loans to recipients and had amazing results in transforming lives.
This program has completed its course and has been closed after nearly a decade of operations. The program in-country partner determined to follow a different ministry direction than O4H was able to participate given our charter. This program is administered in partnership with the Foundation Gran Commission.
Honduras – This program has now ended
Dollars Donated: $42,300
Dollars Loaned: $157,000
Total Loans Made: 494
Families Impacted: 305
Gospel Presented: 1,002
Peru
Peru- This program has completed its objective and funding has been returned to O4H
Be prepared when you ask God to expand your world and open new doors!
Andahuayas is where O4H has been led to invest in lives of children and adults that have been forgotten. Even though Andahuayas is at an altitude of 10,000 feet in the Andes Mountains, and an hour and half ride by turbo-prop, God has prepared and provided in advance.
In the past, these people have suffered attacks by rebels who killed most of the men and boys. But their remote location has caused the central government in Lima to mostly ignore their plight. Previous help organizations pulled out many years ago. But Michael Monks of O4H struck out to find what God had prepared. Michael first found Jami, who is running a school for children who come into the city from the surrounding mountains, their parent’s status unknown. A former micro-loan administrator for another concern, Jami has been praying for organization to return to help the people. While his school has been very successful, he knows there is more to be done for the community.
God’s other provision is Giannina of Minneapolis, MN. Born in Peru, and a successful business woman in the United States, Michael met her in Lima on the way back from Andahuayas. Giannina is looking to help her birth country by relocating back to Peru and help its residents by utilizing her skills and experience running non-profit companies. O4H has partnered with Gannina and Jami to provide the core administration for a micro loan program in Andahuayas. The first few loans have been successful and have been used reach out to Quechua families, primarily women who live in the Andes Mountains. Loans are typically to assist small groups of women to plant potatoes, alfalfa, or purchase and raise guinea pigs (Cuy) which are raised for food. Thanks to Giannina, this program is now self sustaining and all of the money has been returned to O4H for investment elsewhere.
Peru – This program is now closed
Dollars Donated: $7,000
Dollars Loaned: $27,300
Total Group Loans Made: 18
Families Impacted: 112
Gospel Presented: 357
Sri Lanka
O4H began a program in 2012 in the war-torn region of North-West Sri Lanka. The economy has been literally destroyed by years of war and is beginning to heal since peace was restored a few years ago. Because of the primitive economic system and the desperate need, the program is projected to work with loans for as little as $50. O4H is partnering with Lanka Bible College to test this program. Funding for the launch of this pilot program has been provided by our board members. Economic instability has caused this program to be discontinued.
Sri Lanka – This program is now closed
Dollars Donated: $2,000
Dollars Loaned: $3,200
Total Loans Made: 11
Families Impacted: 11
Gospel Presented: 15
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan – This program is now closed
Dollars Donated: $4,000
Dollars Loaned: $5,100
Total Loans Made: 27
Families Impacted: 21
Gospel Presented: 6
Other Stories
Bo – Commonly known as “Bo Town” is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province, serving as both the capital of Bo District and the leading financial, educational, and economic center of southern Sierra Leone. It lies approximately 160 miles (250 km) east-southeast of the nation’s capital, Freetown. With a population of roughly 223,000, Bo is a rapidly growing urban hub, drawing in-migrants from surrounding rural areas who seek access to trade, education, and opportunity.
The economy of Bo and its surrounding district is driven by gold and diamond mining, trading, agricultural production of rice and root crops, and cash crops such as coffee, cacao, and oil palm. The average daily wage or across Sierra Leone is less than $5 per day, placing the country among the lowest-wage nations in Africa. About 81% of Sierra Leone’s population lives in poverty.
77 percent of Sierra Leone’s population is Muslim, 22 percent is Christian, and approximately 2 percent practice animism. Sierra Leone is widely recognized as one of the world’s most religiously tolerant nations, with Christians and Muslims regularly working together peacefully.
Bo has a particularly strong identity as an educational center. Bo is home to Bo Teachers’ College and the Bo Industrial Growth Centre, one of Sierra Leone’s largest vocational schools.
Pastor Francis is Director of Eden Christian School and Eden Microfinance
Eden Microfinance began making loans in Bo City in 2023, and to date have made over 50 loans. Loans are typically 8 months in duration and average about $300 USD each.
James is a Blind Charcoal Businessman
He purchases charcoal from various wholesalers and repackages into smaller quantities to sell in local villages. James uses profits to provide for his family and children’s education
Hannah is a Single Mother who has Two Retail Locations in Bo City
Hannah sells women and kids clothing as well as beauty items. She travels to Burkina Faso and Guinea every month to purchase inventory
Aflao is a border town in the Volta Region of Ghana, situated directly on the border with Togo, 160 miles from the Capital of Ghana – Accra. The population of Aflao is a border town in the Volta Region of Ghana, situated directly on the border with Togo, 160 miles from the Capital of Ghana – Accra. The population of Aflao is estimated to be between 66,500 to 96,000 people.
The economy of Aflao is overwhelmingly driven by cross-border trade. The market women who buy products in Togo and the Togolese who transport goods to other Ghanaian cities form the backbone of daily economic activity, when the border closes, commerce stops almost entirely. Recently, Ghana has secured a $30 million grant from China to construct a modern market in Aflao, designed to serve as a major trading hub between Ghana and Togo.
While the average daily wage in the capital Accra is approximately $170 per day, working residents of the Aflao/Volta Region area earn somewhere in the range of $2–$5 USD per day.
The agricultural sector employs 40% of the workforce, making up roughly one-fifth of Ghana’s GDP, and is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the country’s poorest households.
Christianity is the largest religion in Ghana, with 71% of the population belonging to various Christian denominations (as of the 2021 census), with Islam practiced by 20%.
Aflao’s population, carry a rich traditional spiritual heritage. This blend of evangelical Christianity with deep-rooted traditional spirituality creates a uniquely layered faith culture in Aflao and the surrounding Volta Region — one that is both receptive to and shaped by generations of Christian mission work.
Pastor Wisdom of Goodnews Microfinance began making loans in 2024 under a test program. To date they have made almost 30 loans that average around $300 and are 6 t0 8 months long. Most loans are for retail (food, drinks, drugs, and personal care items) or fishing. The program is planned for expansion in 2026 and 2027.
Blessing sells dry goods (rice, beans Gare) and soft drinks, and snacks near the Goodnews church. She also takes care of orphans at the church and employs 4 other people.
Peace is a single mother of 4. She sells peanut butter door to door in her village as well as in a local storefront. Peace hopes to expand her business through a second loan to purchase a peanut grinder so she can also begin wholesaling peanut butter as well.