We have spent some time assessing the success of the groups on our visits. Here is how we assessed progress and what we have determined. We see that the overall quality of life has improved. A few years ago many members were struggling to pay school fees for their children. Water tanks and goats for families were not the norm. Now most group members have chickens and or goats and water tanks. Many have taken loans to increase their small businesses in the form of machinery, building shelter for their shops or increasing inventory. The groups have taken on group projects such as getting tents to use and also to rent out, sisal machines to process sisal, and have sponsored or provided loans to new groups etc. Their living standards are improved as reported by members and also noted by visitors in the robust or better quality food grown, animals and meat and clothing and shoes worn. This is very exciting for us here to get to visit and see the impact. In some ways it provides a challenge as well as we determine how to grow. Our mission is to help the poorest of the poor. Our groups are living in very challenging areas with many obstacles and are still below the poverty line. Yet they have come so far, and their future potential is clear, and they have the resources to support them there through our coordinators. We now are determining how to both continue to support and celebrate the groups we have and look at how new groups are formed to ensure that we stay true to our goals and connected through the relationships we have built with the established groups so that they can continue to thrive. Our Board does this out of passion for the people we have grown to love and the progress we have seen. When we visit, we do fully at our own expense. Each time, pieces of our hearts are left there- in Malawi and Kenya. Our ties bind us and will help direct our next steps. We welcome any ideas, resources, donations or interest in joining our Board.

Fondly,
Karyn Niles