Emad Yassa, Founder and Chairman of Touch of Love International (TOLI), is raising awareness around the growing need for sustainable, dignity-based economic support models in underprivileged communities worldwide. Drawing on decades of experience in healthcare entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership, Yassa is advocating for a greater focus on micro-loans as a tool for long-term stability rather than short-term relief.
“Too often, support is designed to solve an immediate problem without considering what happens next,” Yassa said. “I’ve seen first-hand that small, well-structured loans can help people build independence and confidence over time.”
Founded in 2006, Touch of Love International operates micro-loan programmes across Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nicaragua. These programmes provide individuals and families with access to modest capital to start or grow small businesses, creating pathways toward financial self-reliance.
According to the World Bank, more than 1.4 billion adults worldwide remain unbanked, limiting their ability to access basic financial tools. Studies from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) show that responsible micro-finance initiatives can increase household income stability and improve access to education and healthcare when paired with accountability and local oversight.
Yassa’s perspective is shaped by his own career path. After graduating from Cairo University in 1985 and relocating to the United States in 1989, he built and led multiple outpatient physical therapy practices over nearly three decades. In 2023, he sold his final clinic to focus fully on nonprofit work.
“Running healthcare businesses taught me the importance of structure, consistency, and responsibility,” Yassa said. “Those same principles apply when you’re trying to create lasting impact in vulnerable communities.”
Rather than positioning micro-loans as charity, Yassa emphasises respect and partnership. “This is not about giving handouts,” he said. “It’s about recognising potential and creating systems that allow people to move forward on their own terms.”
Yassa is encouraging individuals to educate themselves about sustainable development models, engage with organisations that prioritise accountability, and have informed conversations about how support is delivered globally.
“Awareness is the first step,” Yassa added. “When people understand how dignity-based solutions work, they begin to see impact differently.”
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Emad Yassa
Emad Yassa is the Founder and Chairman of Touch of Love International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation focused on economic empowerment through micro-loans. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he brings more than 30 years of experience as a healthcare entrepreneur and nonprofit leader. Touch of Love International operates in five countries, supporting long-term self-reliance through responsible financial access.
Learn more about Touch of Love International’s mission and values at https://toli.org/mission-values.
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