Poverty has many faces. Poverty is hunger, lack of shelter, being sick without access to a doctor. Poverty is not knowing how to read or having a job. It is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to an illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.

Poverty has many faces but it changes from place to place and from person to person. People don't want to be poor but more often than not have no way to escape.  Poverty is therefore a call to action – both for the poor and for those who have more than they need.  Poverty is a call to those who care -- a call to the Church -- so that there will be food to eat, water to drink, a place to sleep, access to education, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in the communities where they live.

The Center for Global Impact engages poverty through Relief and Development initiatives.

Neary grew up in rural Cambodia. Her parents died when she was a child, and, in an effort to give her a better life, her sister married her off when she was 17. Three months later they went to visit a fishing village. Her husband rented a room in what Neary thought was a guesthouse but when she woke the next morning, her husband was gone. The owner of the house told her she had been sold by her husband for $300 and that she was actually in a brothel” ( Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000: Trafficking in Persons Report , U.S. Department of State, 2005).

Children as young as 5 years old are being trafficked ... 5 years old ...

The Center for Global Impact is committed to ending the scourge of trafficking in persons. We intentionally serve those who have been a part of the modern day slave trade and work with Christian organizations who seek to prevent girls from being trafficked, care for victims, or offer skills training which will ultimately lead to successful reintegration.

The pandemic of HIV/AIDS threatens the safety and survival of millions of people across Sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. Extended families, communities, and churches are struggling to provide for the increasing numbers of orphans but this safety net continues to weaken as the death toll continues to rise. Resources, which are in most cases meager to begin with, are being stretched to the limit as the crisis mounts with no end in sight.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has already left behind more than 15 million orphans. The vast majority of these children are vulnerable to poverty, exploitation and themselves becoming infected with HIV.

This year the Center for Global Impact is working in Cambodia to provide care and support for HIV/AIDS orphans.

Sometimes a small amount of seed money is all it takes to break the cycle of poverty. A dairy cow, a sewing machine, or a bicycle together with a simple business plan and some accountability can change lives and create hope. To this end, The Center for Global Impact utilizes micro-enterprise as a key strategic element in the journey toward sustainability. Incorporating micro-enterprise initiatives with many of our international partners and projects is another way that we can make a difference together.

One strategic component of our micro-enterprise program is the revolving fund. In 2011 CGI will establish revolving funds for use in every country where we work. These funds are intended to provide a renewable resource for the poor. Funds are distributed as no-interest loans which depending upon the loan amount, can be repaid over a period of 12 to 30 months. In most cases no-interest micro-enterprise loans are used to start small businesses or further develop an existing ones.

If you have an interest in contributing to one of the Revolving Fund programs please contact Chris at chrisalexander.cgi@gmail.com
We are currently building revolving funds for Cambodia, Guatemala, Kenya, Kosova, and Zambia.