Olive Wolimbwa is the head of the Bulambuli Widow's Association and volunteered to organize the first borrowers in the WMI program. Under her supervision, all of the borrowers made their loan payments on time and they learned how to keep business records. She is now WMI's Local Director and superivses WMI's entire credit program in the villages.

WMI launched its program in the Buyobo region of northeastern Uganda. This rural area is in the foothills of Mt. Elgon and has little in the way of public services. Most villagers do not have electricity, indoor plumbing or running water. There are no banking service of any kind in the area. Credit is available only from local money lenders, who charge exorbitant interest rates.

The women of the Bulambuli Widow's Association were seledcted as the first borrower's in the WMI credit program. WMI board members traveled to Uganda in Jan. 2008 to meet the women. Dressed in their best outfits, they held a day long meeting and listened intently to all of the loan program details.

The women in Buyobo were eager to apply for loans. They waited patiently for hours until WMI staff could meet with them to review their business ideas. Montana Stevenson, WMI's college intern, spent time reviewing all of the loan terms with borrowers while they waited.

June Kyakobye, Robyn Nietert and Montana Stevenson from WMI traveled to Buyobo to launch the loan program. They, along with Olive Wolinmbwa and other elders from the village, met with each borrower individually to review her business idea and make sure she understood the loan terms.

All WMI borrowers executed formal loan agreements. They were given copies of their agreements to keep for their files. WMI believed it was important to treat the borrowers with respect and as valued clientele.

Training is an important part of the WMI loan program. All borrowers must attend business training sessions. They are issued notebooks, pens and calculators to keep track of income and expenses.

After the loans were issued the children took the WMI visitors on a tour of the village. Uganda is a very densely populated country - 75% of the people live in rural areas. It has one of the highest birth rates in the world - 7.2 children per family. There are many AIDS orphans in Buyobo and they are cared for by relatives and neighbors.

The first WMI borrowers received their loans in Jan. 2008. The loans were for a 6 month period and all of the borrowers made their payments on time. They paid off their loans in July 2008 and WMI staff were on hand to celebrate and present them with a graduation present - new tote bags.

WMI borrowers attend weekly support group meetings where they discuss business problems and celebrate their successes. They use their profits to buy food, pay school fees and improve healthcare for their families. They gain self-confidence and become advocates for improvements in their commmunities.

Photo from Progress Report 'Women's Microfinance Initiative'

Photo from Progress Report 'Women's Microfinance Initiative'

Photo from Progress Report 'Postcard from WMI'

Photo from Progress Report 'Trip to Uganda - progress of borrowers'

Photo from Progress Report 'Trip to Uganda - progress of borrowers'

Photo from Progress Report 'Trip to Uganda - progress of borrowers'