Learning to Give With Wisdom

For Christelle, supporting family in Haiti is a shared responsibility, but she has never been shown how to manage her money in a way that cares for both her family and herself wisely.

As a Haitian refugee living in Knoxville, Christelle joined Seed’s small business training with a deep desire to build stability for herself and to support the people she loves. Like many in her culture, she grew up believing that when family or friends ask for money, you give without hesitation. Generosity was expected. And for a long time, that generosity often came at the cost of her own financial security.

Through the training, Christelle encountered a new way of thinking about money, one rooted in both wisdom and stewardship. She learned how to create a simple budget, track her spending, and most importantly, plan for generosity instead of reacting immediately to every request. For the first time, she began to see that saying yes to everyone could quietly place her in a cycle of financial hardship and strained relationships.

Today, Christelle still gives. She still supports her family. But now she does so with clear boundaries and a plan. Instead of being driven by pressure or guilt, she is guided by intention. She is learning when to help and when to protect the stability she is working so hard to build.