“It has been so enriching this past week to learn more about Urwego Opportunity Bank and its incredible impact in the lives of 120,000+ clients who are working their way out of poverty. There have been so many hopeful stories. Urwego CEO is an inspiring man who is truly Christ-centered and client-focused.” That’s what Wellspring Foundation Executive Director Richard Taylor wrote on Facebook after the day experiencing Opportunity and Urwego’s work in Kigali.

Take the “Let’s Uplift Each Other” Trust Group in Kigali fo instance. The group started in 2002 with an average loan of 30,000 Rwandan Francs (RWF) or roughly $50 CDN and now have more than 40 clients in the group with an average loan size of over 400,000 RWF or $600 CDN! They all have savings, they all have insurance and roughly 50% of the members employ others in their businesses.

Often times we look for immediate results and want to see growth and life change occur quickly but the reality is true change happens over time and the stories, one after the other, of the women (and two men) in this group show how microfinance, when done holistically and consistently over time, truly can change lives.

Richard said it all in his Facebook post. Enriching. Incredible. Hopeful. Christ centered. Client focused. That is Opportunity and that is Urwego.