Discussion Guide for

“Recipe for
Success”
After viewing “Recipe for Success,” use this guide to research global poverty, its effect on
children, and sustainable community development; reflect on how the video impacted you;
recall what you learned; respond in tangible ways; reach out with life-changing help; resolve to
follow God’s Word; and rely on His goodness and power.

Research
» M i c r o f i n ance is the provision of financial services, including
savings, credit, insurance and payment services, to low-income people. Typically, low-
income people, especially those living in rural areas, have been unable to obtain these
services from the formal financial sector. Source: World Bank, “Microfinance”

» W o r l d V i sion’s ongoing w ork, especially in development, helps

communities gain access to basics such as education, health, water/sanitation, and food
security. VisionFund International (VFI) provides microloans to the entrepreneurial
poor. VFI focuses most of its micro-lending, along with support and training, in areas
where World Vision has ongoing community development work. By creating new jobs,
stimulating the local economy, and working directly with World Vision’s relief and
development programs, tremendous opportunities emerge to multiply impact.
Source: VisionFund

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» At t h e b e ginning of 2010, the VisionFund microfinance institution network
was present in 42 countries worldwide, serving more than 626,000 borrowers and
positively impacting 873,000 children with a loan portfolio of US$373 million.
VisionFund’s loan repayment rate averages 99 percent. Source: VisionFund

» A r e a s o n able interest rate is charged on microloans for three reasons:

»
»


To cover the cost of running a microfinance program.
To help people become financially independent and competitive under normal

»
market conditions.
To avoid destabilizing the local economy and distorting the development of the
microfinance sector in-country. Source: VisionFund

Reflect
T h e g a p i n i n c ome and standard of living between a typical American family
and the poor is stark. What does this gap say about how we as a global community care for
the poor?

C h a n n So u n a’ s life has been one of heartbreak and hardship. She was

orphaned at 15 and widowed at 22. However, she has managed to provide for her family and
continue persevering so that her children have a better life. Chann Souna is hardworking,
resilient, and hopeful. Is this the image we normally have of the poor? How do our
perceptions of the poor influence our response to their needs?

V i s i o nF u n d ’ s mi crofinance efforts are supported by World Vision’s

investments in a community’s infrastructure, such as schools, roads, health centers, and
leadership that will facilitate business growth. Why is it not enough to only provide
microloans for people in impoverished communities?

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Recall
W h y a r e mi c r o loans a better and more accessible option for the entrepreneurial
poor than loans from moneylenders?

W i t h mi c r o l o a ns fro m V ision Fund, what businesses were entrepreneurs Chann

Souna and Bo Phon able to start? How do their goods and services meet the needs of the
community? What positive changes have they made in their families’ lives since becoming
successful businesswomen?

W h y i s i t im p o rtant for entrepreneurs like Chann Souna and Bo Phon

to receive not only a microloan from VisionFund, but also business counsel from their
VisionFund Community Bank Group?

Ho w i s a mi c r o loan an investment rather than a handout?

Respond
W h at w o u l d y ou be willing to sacrifice to help a hardworking but poor
entrepreneur access a microloan to start a business?

Ho w c a n y o u s upport small fa mily-o w ned businesses in your own

community?

Reach Out
Consider making a difference in the following ways:

» C o n t r i b u te to V ision Fund. Your donations will help hardworking mothers

and fathers provide for their families, create jobs, stimulate their local economies, rise
out of poverty, and experience the dignity of work.
Visit www.visionfundinternational.org to donate and learn more about microfinance

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» B e c o m e a lender through Micro (www.worldvisionmicro.org), a person-
to-person microlending Web site that allows you to view entrepreneurs’ profiles—
including a picture of the entrepreneur, his or her business plans, and how much is
needed to fully fund their loan. You’ll receive updates on the loan repayment and the
entrepreneur’s success—and when the loan has been repaid, it will be recycled to help
another entrepreneur! You can choose to lend individually or with a group of others.

» S p o n s o r a child through World V ision for just about a dollar a day.

You’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics, such as clean water,
improved nutrition, healthcare, education, and economic development opportunities
for their family such as microloans and business training. You can also sponsor a
family for just $40 per month, providing things such as help in starting a family
business and improving housing. Your gifts can make a world of difference for one
child and their community as they continue development efforts. For sponsorship
information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com.

Resolve
» “ T h e ma n with the tw o talents [of money] also came. ‘Master,’ he said,
‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied,
‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will
put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
—Matthew 25:22-23

» S h e i s l i k e the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up
while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets
about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading
is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. —Proverbs 31:14-18

» At t h e p r esent tim e your plenty will supply what they need, so that in
turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality.
—2 Corinthians 8:14

» Ea c h ma n should give w hat he has decided in his heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. —2 Corinthians 9:7

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Rely
Pray that:

» R e c i p i e n t s of microloans will be able to faithfully repay their loans and

grow in their business endeavors so that their children and communities thrive.

» T h o s e wh o lead microfinance programs and advise entrepreneurs in

business practices will have the material resources and knowledge necessary to help
their clients break the cycle of poverty for their families.

» T h e f u n d s necessary to run microfinance programs such as

VisionFund International will be readily available and that we as a global community
will be willing to respond to the needs of the poor.

The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other
cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to
reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we
are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an
error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within,
please contact World Vision Resources.

Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-
9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.

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 About World Vision
W o r l d V i s i o n is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated
to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide
to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and
injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves
alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s
unconditional love for all people.

We envision a world where each child experiences “fullness of life”

as described in John 10:10. We know this can be achieved only by
addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way.
World Vision is unique in bringing 60 years of experience in three key
areas to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term
development, and advocacy. We bring our skills across many areas of
expertise to each community where we work, enabling us to support
children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

About World Vision Resources

E n d i n g g l o b a l poverty and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on
human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision.

World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty,
inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources
to make a difference in the world.

For more information about our

resources, contact:
World Vision Resources
Mail Stop 321
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
Fax: 253-815-3340
wvresources@worldvision.org

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