The Lumana progression from poverty is a thoughtful approach that seeks not only to empower individuals at different levels of poverty, but also to improve rural economies so they can support themselves without outside assistance. Education: Lumana provides business education to community members to help them learn new skills in accounting, marketing and management to take control of their business and personal finances. Savings: Lumana helps people access savings accounts for the first time in their lives. Through our savings and goal-setting program, villagers may access a safe savings account, where they can earn interest, and seek guidance from local mentor who helps them plan to meet future goals, such as sending their children to high school. Loans: Qualified entrepreneurs with plans to grow their businesses receive loans from Lumana that help them increase profits, create jobs and depend less on credit to purchase what they need to succeed. Investing in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: Lumana makes investments in businesses founded by rural Africans that emphasize a double bottom line (increasing both profit for owners and social benefit for the community). Lumana not only loans these enterprises money but also provides business consultation and connections to larger markets, creating profits which stay in the communities we serve.