Five Talents International
Our Mission
“Rather than try to combat poverty from the top-down, microenterprise fights poverty from the ground up by working directly to change the lives of those most affected by poverty.”
Bishop Simon Chiwanga – founder from Tanzania
Based on the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Five Talents’ mission is to fight poverty, create jobs and transform lives by empowering the poor in developing countries using innovative savings and credit programs, business training and spiritual development.
“Master,” he said, “You have entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:20-21
Commended by resolution at the 1998 Lambeth Conference, Five Talents was created as a long term response to the ravages of poverty that debilitate communities in developing countries. The founders, including Anglican Church leaders, talked about the plight of the poor and those dying of famine, AIDS/HIV and other diseases. They wanted not only to assist but also to guard the dignity of the poor, many of whom survive on $1 a day, by supporting them in small businesses.
Today, Five Talents is headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, at the Church of the Holy Comforter. We have an office in London, a regional director in Uganda, and have recently opened an office in southeast US to coordinate our Latin American program and curriculum development. We are supported by many volunteers across the US and the UK.
Five Talents targets the poor at the bottom of the economic ladder using the worldwide grassroots network of the Anglican Communion. We support indigenous institutions working in microenterprise development, primarily through the following services or programs:
• Loan capital for the poor.
• Consulting services, including assessments, implementation and evaluation of savings and credit projects.
• Short-term mission trips for professionals who offer their business skills to fledgling entrepreneurs.
• Training and education opportunities for micro-entrepreneurs.
• Materials that promote Biblical foundations of business, e.g. accountability, planning and investment.
• 50% of the world’s population of 6 billion people survives on less than $2 a day.
• 20% of the world’s population survives on less than $1 a day.
• 20% of the world’s children never reach their fifth birthday.
• 50% of the world’s children suffer from some form of malnourishment.
• With over 70 million members the Anglican Church reaches into many of the poorest communities in the world.
Statistics from the UN Human Development Report
Programs
Stories of Transformed Lives
Events
E-Newsletter
For more information please visit the website.