Across the world, women are rewriting their stories of resilience — not through charity, but through collective strength. From Congo DR millions of women and young people are harnessing Village Savings and Loan Associations to rebuild after conflict, launch businesses, and invest in their futures.

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On a chilly morning in Congo, a group of women gathers in a small shop, their laughter rising above the hum of a city rebuilding after years of conflict. In Ruzuzi Plain, thousands of miles away, young people unlock their community’s first organic agricultural supply store, with a diploma proudly hanging on the wall. High in Congo mountains, the people stand at the entrance of a cinnamon cooperative that is creating livelihoods for dozens who once had none. And in a bustling Congo in Uvira markets, Sada checks her mobile phone, tracking her savings group’s progress as she prepares to open her shop for the day. These women and these stories are not isolated. They are part of a global movement. In 2025, savings groups are rewriting the rules of resilience and opportunity for women and youth. No longer simply a way to pool resources, savings groups have become engines of transformation: rebuilding lives after crisis, empowering women and girls to lead with innovation and collective action and embracing digital tools that connect women to new markets and futures. Across continents, they are planting the seeds of economic growth, hope, and lasting change.