Breaking the cycle of poverty is often seen as insurmountable. While there is no single or simple solution, there are proven strategies that help people improve their incomes. And improved incomes mean people can better provide for themselves and their families.

Improving the incomes of people is at the heart of World Vision economic development projects, because the generation and use of wealth is fundamental to eliminating poverty and transforming lives.
The world’s poorest citizens - those who most desperately need income improvement - are typically excluded from economic opportunities.

The reasons for their exclusion include:

• lack of education and skills
• lack of job opportunities
• lack of capital
• inability to access markets
• lack of business acumen and business skills.

Yet, there are ways to empower people in these situations. By providing them with opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills and confidence, they can take control of their lives, and find ways to solve their own problems and make their own decisions. Through being empowered, both economically and socially, people are able to see new possibilities and imagine better futures.

This process can be difficult both to start and maintain, but there are many examples of empowerment projects that have succeeded. World Vision’s ultimate goal is to address the causes of poverty in a sustainable way rather than simply relieving its symptoms.