Restoring Dignity through Poverty Alleviation and Entrepreneurs

Executive Summary

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Orpe Human Rights Advocates (OHRA) seeks funding to advance its mission of Restoring Dignity through the Entrepreneurship Wraparound Model, a human-rights–centered approach to poverty alleviation. The program equips underserved individuals and communities—particularly youth, women, refugees, and the unhoused, with entrepreneurial skills, access to capital, and holistic wraparound supports.

Grounded in 12 core doctrines and pillars, the model integrates innovation, sustainability, inclusion, and justice to address poverty’s root causes. Through entrepreneurship training, microenterprise development, and comprehensive supports (housing navigation, healthcare, childcare, financial literacy, and counseling), OHRA restores human dignity while building pathways to self-sufficiency.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 8, and 10), this initiative seeks to transform systemic poverty into economic resilience, positioning underserved individuals as community leaders and agents of change.

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Need Statement

Poverty and homelessness continue to strip millions of their basic dignity, perpetuating cycles of exclusion, dependency, and disempowerment. Despite global progress, underserved communities remain marginalized by systemic barriers to education, financial resources, and sustainable livelihoods.

Globally, over 700 million people live in extreme poverty (World Bank, 2023).
In the U.S., marginalized groups, particularly women, youth, refugees, and the unhoused face systemic barriers to employment and entrepreneurship.
Traditional aid models often fail to address the multidimensional nature of poverty, leaving individuals dependent on short-term relief rather than building long-term self-reliance.

As Abby Maxman of OxFam America emphasizes, entrepreneurship has proven to generate impactful innovations for poverty alleviation. However, underserved communities often lack the support systems required to succeed. OHRA addresses this gap through its Entrepreneurship Wraparound Model, ensuring access not only to training and financing but also to holistic services that stabilize lives and restore dignity.

Theory of Change

If underserved individuals are provided with entrepreneurship training, seed capital, and holistic wraparound supports (housing, healthcare, financial literacy, and counseling), then they will stabilize their basic needs, acquire marketable skills, and build sustainable businesses, which will restore dignity, reduce dependency on aid, create local employment, and transform communities into self-sufficient, resilient ecosystems.

This wraparound entrepreneurship model moves beyond charity toward justice and empowerment, making underserved populations leaders in ending systemic poverty.

Program Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Restore Dignity through Economic Empowerment

Objective 1.1: Train at least 500 underserved individuals annually in entrepreneurship, innovation, and financial literacy.
Objective 1.2: Support the launch or scaling of 200 microenterprises and community-based businesses within three years

Goal 2: Break Cycles of Poverty with Wraparound Support

Objective 2.1: Provide integrated services, including housing support, healthcare access, and counseling to at least 70% of participants.
Objective 2.2: Increase participant stability in housing, healthcare, and basic needs by 50% within two years.

Goal 3: Foster Inclusive, Sustainable Development

Objective 3.1: Prioritize the participation of women, refugees, unhoused individuals, and youth, ensuring at least 60% of participants are from marginalized groups.
Objective 3.2: Strengthen partnerships with 25 organizations across government, private sector, and civil society to expand access to markets, capital, and policy advocacy.

Goal 4: Build Long-Term Resilience and Community Leadership

Objective 4.1: Establish five community cooperatives or incubators by Year 3.
Objective 4.2: Develop leadership training modules that prepare 100 participants to serve as peer mentors and community advocates.

Logic Model

Input

Trainers, mentors, OHRA staff, community leaders.
Seed funding, donor support, microfinance.
Training centers, digital labs, co-working spaces.
Partnerships with NGOs, governments, and private sector.
Wraparound services: housing, healthcare, childcare, counseling.

Medium-Term Outcomes (3-5 Y)

Growth of sustainable microenterprises and local job creation.
Reduced reliance on aid/social assistance.
Expansion of inclusive participation (women, youth, refugees, marginalized groups).
Strengthened community-based networks.

Activities

Deliver entrepreneurship and financial literacy training.
Provide access to microfinance/seed capital.
Offer wraparound supports (housing, healthcare, childcare).
Establish community incubators and cooperatives.
Advocate for systemic policy changes to support inclusive entrepreneurship.

Long-Term Outcomes (5-10 Y)

Communities achieve economic self-sufficiency and resilience.
OHRA Entrepreneurship Wraparound Model institutionalized as a poverty alleviation approach.
Transformation of underserved individuals into leaders and community changemakers.
Poverty eradication aligned with SDGs 1, 8, and 10.

Output

500+ individuals trained annually.
200+ small businesses launched or scaled within 3 years.
5+ community cooperatives established.
Increased access to wraparound services for 70% of participants.
Expanded advocacy efforts for equitable policies.

Impact

Restoration of dignity for underserved communities.
Eradication of extreme poverty and homelessness.
Establishment of a global, replicable model integrating human rights, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

Short-Term Outcomes (1-2 Y)

Improved entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy.
Increased access to markets and resources.
Stabilization of basic needs (housing, healthcare, food).
Increased confidence, dignity, and agency among participants.

Sustainability Plan

OHRA will ensure sustainability by:

Building community cooperatives that generate ongoing local revenue.
Developing impact investment partnerships to scale entrepreneurship financing.
Leveraging donor and government partnerships for long-term funding.
Training participants as peer mentors, creating self-sustaining support networks.

Budget (Year 1)

Amount (USD)

$250,000

$300,000

$100,000

$200,000

$50,000

$100,000

$1,000,000

Description

Deliver Training and Supports

Capital for small businesses

Digital labs, entrepreneurship curricula

Holistic participant support

Data collection and reporting

Operations and management

Year-1

Evaluation Plan

OHRA will implement a mixed-methods evaluation to track progress:

Quantitative Metrics:
- of individuals trained, # of businesses launched, # of wraparound services delivered.
- Income growth, job creation, and financial stability indicators.
Qualitative Metrics:
- Participant surveys measuring dignity, confidence, and self-agency.
- Focus groups assessing community leadership and resilience.
Annual Impact Reports shared with funders and stakeholders.

Conclusion

The Doctrines of Restoring Dignity Through Entrepreneurship represent a transformative pathway to eradicate poverty and restore dignity. By integrating entrepreneurship, human rights, and wraparound services, OHRA empowers underserved individuals not just to survive, but to thrive.

With your support, OHRA will train leaders, build sustainable businesses, and create resilient communities—turning cycles of poverty into cycles of dignity and prosperity.

What to Expect When You Contact Us?

Human Rights Advocates

Order for Restoring Peace on Earth (ORPE)

We commit to intervening wherever human dignity is violated, fundamental rights are undermined, or justice is denied, taking every action within our capacity to uphold human rights, honor divine law, and preserve the rule of law.