Visible Fund investment in Kenya
Take a quick trip around the world with us and catch a glimpse of what God is doing through One Collective communities.
When an Investment Keeps Multiplying
What happens when an investment doesn't just meet an immediate need, but creates the resources to meet the next one?
In Kenya, a Visible Fund investment helped launch a farming initiative that generated a profit. Rather than stopping there, those profits, combined with additional fundraising, became the start-up capital for Threads of Hope, a sewing vocational training and discipleship program for local women.
Today, that investment is multiplying in ways that reach far beyond sewing.
Teresia began Threads of Hope as a trainee. With a consistent income, she has been able to keep all four of her children in school for the past nine months. Through the program's discipleship, she has also grown confident sharing God's Word with her neighbors. Her leadership continued to grow, and today she serves as an assistant trainer, equipping other women in her community.
Susan was pregnant during her training. Through Threads of Hope, she learned about budgeting and began setting aside small amounts each week in savings jars, including one specifically for medical needs. Combined with the income she earned through the program, those savings allowed her to receive prenatal care and give birth in a hospital. With her first child, those options had not been financially possible.
Loice can now consistently afford monthly medication for her daughter, who has a disability. She also says that through Threads of Hope, she has learned how to read the Bible and pray.
The ripple effect continues.
Threads of Hope rents space from Matumaini Rehabilitation Centre, providing monthly income to a local organization serving more than 80 children and youth with disabilities. It repairs school uniforms for MRC students at no cost and contributes a portion of its profits back to the organization. The program is also creating vocational opportunities for young people with disabilities, including training one young woman with limited function in one arm to use a knitting machine to make school uniform sweaters.
Local families also benefit. Previously, parents had to travel to the nearest town to purchase school uniforms, with transportation alone costing more than the average day's wage. Now they can walk to Threads of Hope, purchase quality uniforms locally, and support women from their own community in the process.
The original Visible Fund investment has now been repaid. The team is exploring how those funds can be reinvested into Threads of Hope and broader community transformation efforts. One investment helped create an enterprise. Its profits helped launch another. Women gained skills and income. Children stayed in school. Families gained access to healthcare. People with disabilities gained new opportunities. Local organizations grew stronger. And women like Teresia are now leading and sharing the hope of Jesus with others.
This is the multiplication the Visible Fund was created to make possible.
These are just a few snapshots of what God is doing across the globe. Thanks so much for reading!
Lindsey Vanzant
Global Giving Advisor
Lindsey serves as the Global Giving Advisor for One Collective, where her primary focus is to coach financial supporters by connecting their goals, experiences and passions to the work God is doing on the front lines in communities where One Collective serves around the world.
Prior to joining One Collective, Lindsey spent 15 years in various business development and account management roles with Rubbermaid Commercial Products where she most recently led the healthcare division. For the past 11 years, Lindsey has led a local ministry support group for young moms with unplanned pregnancies alongside her local church.
Lindsey lives in Indiana with her husband and four children and loves to travel, explore new places, meet new people, cheer on Hoosier basketball, grow flowers, and spend time with family and friends.