Empowering Communities

THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Around 460 million people in Africa live in extreme poverty. That’s roughly a third of the population of the entire continent living under the poverty threshold of approximately $1.90 U.S. dollars a day. But Africa is also a land of great potential, filled with cultural and ecological diversity and rich in human resources. Africa Forward Initiative, Inc. aims to break the cycle of extreme poverty by unleashing the potential within the people of Africa, empowering them to create their own sustainable incomes and lift their communities out of poverty themselves.

BE PART OF AFRICA’S FUTURE

Africa Forward Initiative, Inc. takes a dual approach to supporting African communities living in extreme poverty. One is by boosting entrepreneurship by way of microloans offered to individuals to expand and develop their small businesses. The other is by supporting infrastructure projects that raise the standard of living for entire communities and create even more opportunities. Your donation helps Africa Forward Initiative, Inc. achieve these goals.

Entrepreneurship success stories

Ishallo

Baking Bread is her Bread and Butter

October 23, 2023
Kao mengizani, known as Ishallo is a bread baker whose output has increased from about 45 loaves a day to up to 500 thanks to support from the Africa Forward Initiative. Ishallo had long been known for the tasty loaves of bread she baked and sold from her home. Her bread was so popular that she was typically sold out by early morning; however, she didn’t have the means to expand her business. Ishallo received an $80 loan from Africa Forward Initiative and used it to purchase more ingredients and equipment so she could increase her volume. She now sells steadily from three different outlets and has hired three women to work for her, thus providing a sustainable income for not only her own family, but three more families as well. Ishallo plans to eventually add a solar-powered commercial oven so she can grow her business even more.
Growing the Herd

Growing the Herd

By duda • August 23, 2023
Nog Piyabalo is a sheep farmer whose herd has grown from about 30 to more than 300 in a year’s time thanks to a loan and the accompanying support he received from the Africa Forward Initiative. Nog Piyabalo is a sheep farmer whose herd has grown from about 30 to more than 300 in a year’s time thanks to a loan and the accompanying support he received from Africa Forward Initiative. With no financial means for—or ready access to—veterinarian services, Nog’s sheep were vulnerable to disease. In addition, he couldn’t afford to build proper shelter to protect the sheep from predators. He was granted a $100 loan which he used to bring a veterinarian to his farm to examine the sheep, vaccinate them, and train Nog on how to better take care of them. Nog was eventually granted a second loan, which he used to build a shelter and obtain a guard dog to further protect the sheep. He now has a robust herd that provides a steady, sustainable income, not just for himself, but for the several workers he has since been able to employ. Nog is now sharing his expertise with others; he has formed an association of local sheep farmers who meet regularly to share information and support one another.
Makote

A Passion for Fashion

By duda • September 19, 2022
MAKOTE Madjemba is a tailor who is now able to earn a living wage through the trade she loves thanks to support from Africa Forward Initiative. Skilled with a needle and thread, MAKOTE has always loved fashion, and she established a business tailoring clothes for various customers. However, her only sewing machine was old and broke down frequently, causing sometimes lengthy delays in projects. As a result, MAKOTE was having difficulty maintaining a sustainable client base. She got a loan through Africa Forward Initiative and used it to purchase a new, dependable sewing machine that has enabled her to take on more projects and turn them around quickly. Her business has since grown to the point that she now has four young apprentices who are working with her and learning the tailoring trade. MAKOTE hopes to one day open a fashion stylist school where she could teach her craft to even more apprentices.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: Community Clinic

BY THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY

Africa Forward Initiative’s success is due in large part to the community it serves. It was founded by Hezouwe Walada, a native of the village of Koumea in Togo, and is administered by a team of local workers who monitor the clients’ progress and offer guidance as needed to ensure success. Because they live in the very communities they serve, Africa Forward Initiative’s team is vested in the success of the individual clients and the community. Likewise, the clients are equally vested in the success of the organization’s community projects and everyone helps wherever possible, whether it’s digging the foundation for a clinic or pouring the concrete for a well. With everyone working together, the community thrives and grows.

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GET TO KNOW TOGO

Togo is a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea covering 22,000 square miles from north to sound with a width of 71 miles. Although small in size, Togo’s landscape has a wide range of stunning geographic features, from the rolling savanna of the northern region, to the hills of the country’s center, to the sandy beaches and palm trees of the coastal southern border. It’s home to roughly 8.65 million people, with the capital of Lomé on the southern coast the most populous city at close to 1.5 million people. However, most of the nation’s people (about 65 percent) live in the rural villages where agriculture is the main sector of the economy.


Although it’s one of the poorest countries in the world, thanks in part to political instability, inadequate education, and lack ofeconomic investment, Togo is also known for its friendly people and rich, diverse cultural heritage. The nation is made up of about 40 different ethnic groups, each with its own unique traditions, languages, and customs. There are 39 distinct languages spoken here, with French as the country’s official language.


Togo is also known for its vibrant markets, national parks and nature reserves, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s a popular destination for eco-tourism thanks to its diverse range of ecosystems, supporting a wide range of plant and animal species.