{"id":2176,"date":"2024-12-09T08:42:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T08:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abridgetoafrica.org\/?p=2176"},"modified":"2024-12-10T22:35:29","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T22:35:29","slug":"how-microloans-empower-african-women-and-transformed-a-moms-career-forbes-feature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abridgetoafrica.org\/fr\/uncategorized\/how-microloans-empower-african-women-and-transformed-a-moms-career-forbes-feature\/","title":{"rendered":"How Microloans Empower African Women And Transformed A Mom’s Career – Forbes Feature"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

How Microloans
Empower African Women And
Transformed A Mom's Career<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Written by: Robin Ryan<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFeature Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Have you ever been so deeply touched that you decided to do something to make a difference? Rebekah Acker had her epiphany after being a stay-at-mother for 16 years. Her father Rex Holt, a pastor and the founder of\u00a0Le Pont a Bridge to Africa<\/a>, along with her mother Sherry, had spent years working in Togo Africa. Her parents often talked about the ongoing missionary work they had done there and how important it was.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Acker had not been to that country since she was a young girl. Two years ago, she went to see what her parents and their nonprofit had accomplished. She fell in love with the African people she met. She realized she now had a new purpose: to lead the nonprofit focused on transforming the lives and communities of the Togolese.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

Acker was inspired by the outstanding contributions the LE PONT nonprofit was making. They serve tiny African communities. The first significant achievement comes from having built water wells. These brought new freedom and new opportunities to the people, especially for women who no longer had to walk hours each day to fetch water.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cThe wells provide clean water, vegetable gardening, fish and poultry production, and jobs for a community,\u201d stated Acker. \u201cI saw my chance to make a difference in the lives of these wonderful people in a place no one had ever heard of. I got excited about one of the newer programs focused on helping women support their families by becoming small business owners.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Microloan Program<\/strong><\/p>

Acker explained that the\u00a0Prisca Peace Project\u00a0<\/a>is their program that provides a $100 microloan to some hardworking women, enabling each to develop and grow their own business. The women include seamstresses, cosmetologists, and shop owners selling groceries, spices, produce, and other handmade goods. Entirely funded by donations, every cent goes into providing loans and training to ensure the women\u2019s success.<\/p>

\u201cLife in Africa is so removed from life in the US,\u201d said Acker. \u201cMany African women struggle with basic math and writing. They never had the chance to attend school and speak only their tribal languages. These women had spent years walking several miles a day to fetch water, but now, with the new wells, they have an opportunity to earn an income to support both their families and create a stronger community. Just earning a few extra dollars a week, enables a much better lifestyle for the family,\u201d she said.<\/p>

\u201cThe Prisca Peace Project also provides essential training in accounting, marketing, and business development to ensure participants have the tools they need for long-term success,\u201d she explained.<\/p>

There is an 8-month loan repayment period with a perfect repayment rate. This successful program is growing and set to launch another group of women with the seed money to become a business owner.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A career epiphany<\/strong><\/p>

Taking on a challenge to change the world is often just a fantasy. But in narrowing your vision, you can find a way to help a few and make a significant difference in their lives.<\/p>

\u201cWho would have thought that I\u2019d have such a meaningful and rewarding job? Making the transition from being a stay-at-home Mom to Le Pont\u2019s executive director has been a big career move for me. But I have found my purpose,\u201d said Acker.<\/p>

Currently, the nonprofit is assisting 18 small communities in Africa. Acker said she is very proud of the microloan program. It offers women a career as a business person, which is something they would never have conceived of doing before.<\/p>

\u201cDuring my trip to Africa, when I saw the hope in the women\u2019s eyes,\u201d explained Acker, \u201cI realized how empowering this project was. During that revelation, I knew expanding our programs was a worthy task to devote my life to.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"WhatsApp<\/figure><\/div>
\"WhatsApp<\/figure><\/div>
\"unnamed<\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t
\n
\n

Through your support, the Prisca Peace Project is creating sustainable change\u2014one woman, one family, and one community at a time.<\/h2> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t