September 2026 Update

Every journey begins somewhere different: a home bakery in Haiti, a family shop in Kenya, and a rehabilitation program in Peru. This month, meet Dieumene, Beth, and Sophia—three people whose hard work, family support, and new opportunities are helping them take meaningful steps toward the future they hope to build.

 

Haiti Sustainable Livelihoods Program

Women baking bread in Haiti

A Role Model in Her Community

Dieumene is a 35-year-old woman who lives in Jolibois, in the sixth communal section of Côte-de-Fer. She has three children and cares for them with the support of her husband, who does not have a steady income. Despite her cooking skills, she had never been able to start a business due to a lack of financial resources. To earn a living, she occasionally sold small goods, mainly reselling trays of bread.

In July 2024, Dieumene was selected to participate in CMMB’s TIKREDI-LIVELIHOOD program, that supports economic empowerment. After completing several hours of training, she received a microloan of 10,000 Haitian gourdes. She invested the money in flour and began baking bread.

Dieumene started modestly, producing two baskets of bread per week and selling them in her neighborhood. At first, she baked the bread at another baker’s home. As word spread, demand grew. She learned to diversify her recipes and built her own traditional oven at home. Today, she works alongside her husband and another family member, who helps distribute the bread.

The Results:

  • Dieumene fully repayed her loan on time.
  • She earns an average of 3,500 Haitian gourdes per week.
  • She built her own oven to bake bread.
  • She is a member of one of our community savings groups.

Today, Dieumene is respected in her community. People come directly to her home to buy bread, and she has built a strong local reputation. Her bread has become a symbol of local success. With a modest loan and great determination, she has transformed not only her own life but also the lives of her entire family.

 

Kenya Sustainable Livelihoods Program

Woman at her shop, Kenya.

Beth’s Journey to Economic Stability 

Beth, 53, from Mutomo, Kenya, joined CMMB’s Sustainable program in 2020 after her sister-in-law passed away following childbirth, leaving behind four orphaned children. Beth took in the children, including newborn Joshua, who spent nearly a month hospitalized. Her brother-in-law, who has a severe eye condition and poor vision, also depends on her for daily survival.

Beth’s household has 12 members, including two children under five and five school-age children. The family relies on farming, but unreliable rainfall often leads to poor harvests, making it hard to produce enough food year-round. Her husband supports them through charcoal burning but is away for long periods.

Through CMMB’s cash transfer program, Beth received monthly support that helped her buy food and improve her family’s nutrition. More importantly, financial literacy training empowered her to save and manage resources wisely—skills she had never practiced before.

With savings from the cash transfers and family support, Beth started a small shop at Makutano Ngasani Centre, creating a new income stream beyond farming. She also invested in livestock and now keeps seven goats and 18 chickens.

Beth plans to use future cash transfers to grow her business and strengthen her family’s resilience, ensuring she can continue supporting her large household even after the program ends. Beth’s story shows how CMMB Kenya’s holistic support, combining cash assistance, financial literacy, and savings opportunities, can help a vulnerable family move from surviving a crisis toward building a sustainable livelihood.Today, Beth is not just meeting daily needs; she is investing in a more secure future for her children and dependents.

 

Peru Rehabilitation with Hope Program

Sophia during rehabilitation session

Sophia’s Journey of Progress

Sophia joined the Rehabilitation with Hope Program in February 2022 at age three. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, epilepsy, and a motor function disorder, she experienced frequent seizures, limited mobility, and sensory challenges that affected her eating.

With the support of her mother, Vanessa, and her family, Sophia has made remarkable progress. She now maintains eye contact, participates in small groups, eats a wider variety of foods, crawls, and recently began walking longer distances while holding someone’s hand.

Her family knows the journey continues, but they remain determined. They are grateful to CMMB and believe that love and perseverance make progress possible.

“With love, constancy, and perseverance, we are moving forward!”

 

 

 

constancy