A handout might enable the poor to survive one more day, but can they be given tools to escape poverty for good?
By empowering South African churches to provide the poor in their communities with economic development and discipleship, the Paradigm Shift program equips South African church volunteers to provide long-term solutions to the poverty around them.
The Paradigm Shift program comprises four key components which tackle both the spiritual and physical aspects of poverty:
Paradigm Shift partner churches train entrepreneurs through interactive business trainings, which take them from intuition to practice of basic business principles.
Paradigm Shift believes that true life transformation happens only from the inside out. Addressing spiritual poverty is as important as addressing physical poverty. That is why Paradigm Shift’s unique model incorporates Biblical teachings into every structured interaction with entrepreneurs.
The lack of capital presents a major barrier to grow a small business. Many entrepreneurs are unable to access the formal banking system, so their sources of capital are family members, savings groups or local moneylenders.
Through a dynamic one-on-one relationship, an entrepreneur and a mentor experience the richness of friendship across socio-economic barriers, race and culture––an encounter that is transformative for both of them!
“As a South African church surrounded by a community in need of social, economic, as well as spiritual renewal, we had a dream to empower entrepreneurs to earn a living while being discipled at the same time. The Paradigm Shift program has helped us realise that dream.”
