Neighbor News
Students Work to End Global Poverty
Teens make micro-loans to help end global poverty through a program at St. Stephen's. October 20 is first meeting of the group's new year.
St. Stephen’s Global Philanthropy Leaders (GPL), a ministry where high school students learn about and take action to reduce global poverty, will hold its first meeting of the new school year Sunday, October 20, at 11:30 a.m. in the church’s North Hall. Participants are not required to be members of St. Stephen’s Church.
Using a fund of about $4,500, GPL makes $25 micro-loans to struggling entrepreneurs around the world ($25 goes a long way when one is living on $2 a day). Adults advise the students, but the teens make final loan decisions. Founded by St. Stephen’s in 2017, the program has been adopted by a dozen churches in three states.
Some 1.5 billion people in the world have no access to traditional financial services. To make its loans, GPL uses Kiva, a nonprofit crowd-funding source, whose mission is to help unbanked people in 81 countries gain access to financial assistance. Kiva works directly with field partners to distribute loans to borrowers. Last year, GPL students at St. Stephen’s used it to make 153 loans in 15 countries. Since GPL’s inception, about 77% of its loans have been to women, and loans are primarily in four sectors: food prep businesses, agriculture, small retail, and clothing.
“GPL helps high school students from one of the most affluent parts of the world to experience what it might be like to live on only $2 a day,” said Sue Vogelman, St. Stephen’s Associate for Youth and Children’s Ministry and, with Rich Stein, GPL co-leader. One parent said of the program: “GPL has given all three of our kids perspectives that they did not otherwise have before their experience with the GPL and the Kiva organization. Learning and gaining more of an understanding of those in need around the globe is priceless.” Participants in GPL meet monthly through early May. Each meeting includes a guiding scripture lesson and financial/economic lesson. To learn how to be part of this ministry, email svogelman@ststephens-ridgefield.org.
