Credit Women's Initiatives

Summary

With a loan of $50 to $200 plus training, a poor rural woman can start her own business selling organic vegetables, sewing saris, or supplying milk to dairy processing facilities among many other type

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Many rural families and communities lack banking services, possess little collateral to obtain credit, and live far from commercial centers. Women typically are heads of households as men migrate to cities or mines in search of work, but they struggle to make ends meet. With a loan at a fair interest rate and technical support she can start and scale-up income-generating activities that will support a balanced diet, schooling for her children, and eventually durable housing.

How will this project solve this problem?

1000 women will take small loans ($50 to $200) to start businesses. In conjunction with the loans, they will receive technical support on building and scaling up businesses. Groups of 10-20 women will share ideas and support each other’s ventures.

Potential Long Term Impact

With repayment rates routinely reaching 98% an original loan fund is “recycled” yearly to new women. Wealth accumulation builds local economies. Women also discover their own potential, educate their children, and break out of dire poverty.

Project Message

“The milk and income from the buffalo have helped us survive this terrible drought. I have already paid off the loan and have bought a second buffalo.”
- Hiri Bai, Participant in a microcredit project in India

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources