Lomitu lives in Ethiopia. Until recently, she didn’t have access to safe water at home. To get water for her family, Lomitu walked about a half hour to an unprotected spring to collect water. It took her another half hour to walk back home with heavy, full vessels. Lomitu made this trip three times each day. This was time she could not spend making injera, the Ethiopian bread she sells for a living.

A small, affordable loan empowered Lomitu with more time in her day to earn a living. Here’s how. With a loan for about US $167 Lomitu was able to construct a water connection on her property. With access to water at home now, Lomitu has three more hours each day to bake and sell injera.