Successful economic empowerment – the kind that generates an income, builds self-worth and hope which improves the quality of life – requires understanding and commitment to the work.  It includes new approaches to confront the causes and sustainable solutions that address the unique circumstances contributing to poverty in each community.  Allowing all those in a society to have an earning capacity is one of the keys to alleviating poverty.  When a person can provide for his/her family, he/she has the power to improve the standard of living, the health, nutrition and possibility for education. It also gives them more dignity and a better understanding of self-worth. Lighting the Path’s focus is on economic empowerment of women and all populations who are not given opportunities to earn a wage. They are the ones who can most benefit from education, skills and training that promote income earning, self-sufficiency and value in a society.