On a verdant stretch of green along the Nile, Hala and her husband eked out a living with his farming earnings. However, on this single income, they struggled to pay their household expenses and the school fees for their three children.

Hala was determined to provide her kids with a better life. Despite her limited education and professional experience, she took the initiative to find additional ways to support the family.

When Hala heard about a HANDS-sponsored micro-loan program, she realized this could be a way to earn a second income, using her basic farming skills. She applied for a small loan and, with these funds, bought some fodder to feed her cattle and rented a piece of land, which she cultivated with clover to feed her cows.

Through her ingenuity and hard work, Hala is now raising a small herd of cows. With their milk, she makes cheese and butter, which she sells. The earnings from this small business enable her to pay her children’s school fees and keep up their house.

“This project helped us as a family in having a regular income, as I sell milk, cheese, and butter,” she reported recently.

Thanks to our incredible supporters, Egyptians like Hala are building better lives for themselves and their families. We are so grateful for your generosity, which is transforming lives in villages and cities throughout Egypt.