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Mission
Investing Hope Foundation equips kids (8-21) and families with tools to escape poverty through experiential training in entrepreneurship, savings, investment, and financial management.

Background
Established in 2015, the Investing Hope Foundation (IHF) has provided Colombian children, youth, and families hope for a better future by imparting knowledge and practical experience in entrepreneurship, savings, investment, financial management, and values. Today, IHF works with over 6,600 children and youth and over 2,050 adults.

What We Do
So far, IHF has helped mobilize over USD 1,200,000 in accumulated savings from vulnerable communities, including over USD 370,000 from the children in their Youth Entrepreneurship and Savings (YES) Clubs, where they save weekly in COP 500 (13 US cents) increments. Thus far in 2024, the children alone have saved over USD 113,00.

Investing Hope collaborates with existing grassroots organizations in vulnerable communities (foundations, churches, and schools) and assists them in developing their economic component. IHF trains someone from their community to implement the program and covers their expenses for the first two years.

Additionally, IHF provides a credit line for each group of children we support so they can invest in their businesses. Each week, the children pay back the cost of the materials and save their profits. The children themselves elect leaders trained to do the basic bookkeeping for their business and record individual savings in booklets.

At the end of the year, children and youth receive their savings and are ready to make their first financial decision. In 2023, a survey revealed that 63% had spent their savings within three months, with 72% using their money for needs rather than desires. 20% had not spent anything and were saving for something in the future (university was the most common goal), and 17% had invested their savings in another income-generating activity.