Is Hope Possible in South Sudan?

I don't always feel bright and happy on Monday mornings. But being involved with Five Talents is uplifting. I continue to learn many new things about people with courage, all over the world, who are doing things to make lives better. Both their own lives and those they love.

This week we had a great visit in Northern Virginia with Harun Mutuma, the director of our South Sudan programs. Harun lives with his family in Kenya (including four really cute kids) part of the year and travels much of the year to train coordinators for our savings groups in South Sudan. We can all feel excited to be part of this meaningful work. Thank you all for joining us in this journey.

Harun spoke here on the topic, Is Hope Possible in the World's Most Fragile State? Reflections from South Sudan.

The answer is, "Yes!" And it was great to hear Harun explain the specifics of how new entrepreneurs have been starting businesses and helping their families. The photo of Harun here is with one of the local coordinators and with some of the kids who now have uniforms so they can go to school. If you would like to see some delightful stories from South Sudan, please click here.

Until next Monday morning, blessings,

Dale Stanton-Hoyle
Executive Director, Five Talents USA
Cel 703-472-7679
www.FiveTalents.org

Moving Spaces: A New Office and New Savings Groups

Good Monday morning. I hope you are feeling refreshed by the weekend and grateful this morning. Just think how much good we can accomplish by the end of this week.

Five Talents has been busy in the last week. We moved the US office within Northern Virginia from Fairfax to Falls Church. The process was time consuming, but it was inspiring to look closely at the memories from almost 20 years of work in over 20 countries. The beautiful photographs, mostly of new entrepreneurs' faces, show so much dignity and joy in our program participants.

On the other side of the world, in a country experiencing deep conflict, Five Talents leadership met with local leaders in Myanmar. In addition to planning for new savings and credit groups, we led training sessions. I am grateful that the work of these groups can continue, even when the nation is facing challenging times.

After four weeks as the "new" Executive Director, I continue to learn each day about the skills, the dedication, and the generosity of our staff, our partners, and our Board of Directors. It's clearly no coincidence that Five Talents has been successful at refining its model for empowering the poor for almost 20 years. We can all feel excited to be part of this meaningful work. Thank you all for joining us in this journey.

Until next Monday morning, blessings,

Dale Stanton-Hoyle
Executive Director, Five Talents USA
Cel 703-472-7679
www.FiveTalents.org

The Start of Something New - Monday Morning Reflections

After the rush of getting kids to school, making breakfast, showering, etc., I hope you get the chance to sit for a few minutes with a good cup of coffee or tea and think about the week ahead. What is important in our lives? What are the gifts we have been given in this time we have to accomplish important things? How will we use this week ahead, this wonderful gift?

As the new Executive Director of Five Talents (after three weeks, still very much transition from the wonderful leadership of our chairman, Jim Oakes), I am pledging to try to share with you every Monday morning some thoughts for the week. We'll sprinkle in some news from our program partners around the world. We'll update you on what we are doing to grow our ability to help the poor start new businesses, transforming their families from dependence to dignity.

I've been doing work with energy systems around the world for a long time, and I'm excited to be part of Five Talents. I have a lot to learn, but I can already tell that the Five Talents' program model and its staff are excellent. If you would like to learn a bit more about my background, please click here.

Final thought for today: many of you have known our board member, Hooks Johnston, who died two weeks ago. Hooks was a powerful leader who gave of himself in many ways. And he loved our Five Talents partners. He showed so much joy in his smile when he travelled to meet them. And he championed how the Five Talents model feeds both body and soul. I hope you will join us in furthering the work Hooks did by supporting the Hooks Johnston Memorial Fund. 

Until next Monday morning, blessings,

Dale Stanton-Hoyle
Executive Director, Five Talents USA
Cel 703-472-7679
www.FiveTalents.org