Hope Business Program

Overview

The Hope Business Program is a faith-based business training program designed for use by local leaders. It is written in simple English with picture icons to help leaders easily understand how to lead a group. This training:

Focuses specifically on women
Teaches key components of starting and growing a business
Adapts to those who may not have had access to high levels of education
Uses a story to easily and clearly demonstrate the process of starting a business. Every lesson refers back to the main character of this story
Incorporates Bible lessons in a faith-based approach
Includes various learning styles in each lesson

Additionally:

Each week students take one small, doable step toward launching or growing a thriving business.
Groups may apply for a micro-loan to be used as a training tool.
Groups may choose to form a co-op and work together, or individuals may choose to start their own businesses while agreeing to support each other.

The Hope Business Program is facilitated by a Program Leader who:

Has a heart to give at-risk women and girls a voice, a choice, and a chance, thereby helping to prevent human trafficking
Desires to do something practical and powerful to help women achieve financial independence and build a better life
Is passionate about sharing God’s love

Drawing of a woman looking at her reflection in the mirror

Course Structure

Hope Business Training is a life-changing 12-month training program, which includes a 20-week formal business curriculum followed by weekly meetings during the 32-week loan repayment period.

Hope Business Training is organized into 4 Units.

Unit 1: Pre-qualification lessons guide students to write and present a business plan. Only students who successfully complete this unit are eligible to participate in a group micro-loan.
Unit 2: Lessons include following the business plan, learning more about business, and building community. During these weeks students help each other prepare to launch their businesses. Microloans are distribued.
Unit 3: Businesses have been launched by the time Unit 3 begins. Students learn about saving. They review concepts, build their businesses, and deepen connections with one another.
Unit 4: Students continue to strengthen their businesses. They review important information, help each other with challenges, repay their loans, and continue to save.

A Bible lesson is included in every lesson. Bible lessons focus on:

knowing we are loved
being nurtured by God
our significance
our fruitfulness
developing strong character

To become better acquainted with this program, refer to the program excerpts below, especially “Sara’s Story.” This illustrated narrative gives students an overview of what they will be learning in Hope Business Program. It is also used throughout the program to reinforce specific business concepts as they are taught.

Sara’s Story

The Curriculum Specifics

Hope Business Program is a highly interactive learning experience that includes a variety of teaching activities. There are 20 weeks of formal sessions, each 2-3 hours long. Shorter, informal meetings follow during the loan repayment period. The entire program lasts a total of 12 months. Each session includes:

Clear Learning Objectives to guide the leader through each segment of the class
Student Book pages that connect the leader and the students
Varied lesson components, marked by different pictures to identify different types of activities
A Bible lesson with Scripture, discussion, and prayer
Optional activities to support each teaching point
Next Steps Homework that assigns practical steps students take between each session to move forward in business

The HOPE Loan Option

Hope Business Program is designed for at-risk older teen girls or women who want to start a business and become financially independent. The program leader can apply to a microfinance institution of her choice or apply for a one-time Hope Loan from Get HOPE Global. For more specific information about the Hope Loan Program, refer to the FAQs. In order to apply for Hope Loans on behalf of the participants in her group, a program leader is required to:

Purchase the curriculum
Conduct the 8 Pre-Qualification Sessions
Ensure participants meet the stated loan requirements
Apply on-line for the individual loan applicants

In Summary

We are pleased that you are considering the Hope Business Program and want to assure you that this kind of program works! As a program leader, you will not be liable for the repayment of loans or the success or failure of any business decisions made. However, you can be part of helping women and girls start a business, increasing their chances of becoming financially independent – and building better lives. Most importantly, you will be helping them build a strong faith in Jesus Christ, the source of all hope and dignity and joy.

To gain a more complete perspective of what the Hope Business Program is about, download the complete version of Sara’s Story.

Note: The version of Sara’s Story that is included with the curriculum has African-ethnicity illustrations. A version with Asian-ethnicity illustrations is also available upon request. ALL versions of Sara’s Story are written in English.