Small businesses can create change. Change for a family and change for a community. But having what it takes to get started isn’t accessible to everyone.

Not everyone has the capital or credit needed, and the barrier is too large for those who would benefit most from the transformation. Microloans help bridge the gap.

Microloans are typically low-interest loans that range from a few hundred dollars up to $50,000, with a focus on supporting underserved communities and business sectors. These loans are often provided by nonprofit, community-based organizations with experience in lending and business management.

Humanity’s Friend is currently focused on community development in Roatán, Honduras. We are actively identifying individuals who share our values of empowering the underserved and also have a business goal we can help them achieve.

We’re committed to support beyond just financial assistance. We also provide resources like business mentorship, financial management classes, and other types of business training and assistance.

Let me tell you about Ericsson. 

Ericsson grew up on the island and comes from a story of both abandonment and kindness from others. He knows what is like to have nothing, and he knows the work it takes to care for a family. 

He is currently working in construction and part-time driving a van for mission trips when they come to the island. When he drives, he has to rent a van which takes over half of the money he makes from driving. 

He has wanted to buy his own van, but it’s equal to about two years' wages at his current income. Lending in Honduras is challenging as you need two cosigners who will be on the hook if you don’t pay, and few people are willing to make that commitment. ‍

But Ericsson knows if he had his own van, he could hire someone else to drive it and earn enough money to pay it off and provide for the family of the driver. 

We worked with Ericsson to develop a plan for this driving business. As part of it, he created budgets for both the business and his personal spending. He has committed to live from his new budget to save up enough money for a 20% down payment on the van. The business budget he created allows him to pay back the other 80% over the first 12 months of ownership. 

Ericsson really wants to grow, and he wants to bless others, teaching them what he has learned. By offering him a microloan, we’re giving someone who wants to grow the chance.

If you want to make microloans like Ericsson’s possible, you can contribute to our microloan fund. Our goal is to raise $25,000 that can be used ongoingly for short-term, interest-free microloans.