The Microloan project was born after the atrocities of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Thousands of families were torn apart in the genocide when mothers, fathers and children were killed in the conflict. Thousands of men lost their lives in battle leaving their wives behind. Many women turned to prostitution as the only way they knew how to provide for their families. Many women contracted HIV.

Bishop Theophile Rugubira, the founder of Africa Hope Initiatives of Kigali Rwanda, began working with an international non-profit organization that provided food while the government provided medicine to widows who contracted HIV. But after a few years, that funding ran out. The food and medicine stopped coming and the women were dying. In 2008, three women came to the local church requesting support. The church did not have the funds to support these women, but they prayed for a miracle. Bishop Theophile came up with the idea of the women starting a small business.  

With no capital to begin a business, he gave each woman three thousand Rwandan Francs (the equivalent of 3 U.S. dollars). The women started selling a variety of vegetables. One of the women, Josie, now leads the Women's Cooperative in Kimisagara and she continues to teach and provide guidance to other women as they receive an opportunity to start their small businesses.