Out of the 150 million people who live in extreme poverty, most are small subsistence farmers or home-based business vendors, whose livelihoods are vulnerable to economic uncertainties, weather, socio-political upheavals or natural disasters. Millions of poor entrepreneurs in developing countries also face socio-political uncertainties that can upend their lives and destroy their villages.

At Cross International, we work with ministry partners across the Caribbean, in Latin America and Africa to try and help these people — to raise their standard of living while also increasing their sense of dignity and self-respect. Many are single mothers who have struggled to be both the primary caretaker and the breadwinner for their children, and their eyes light up as they tell you how they are putting food on the table while also affording medicine, clothing and school fees.