Dear Donors,
Akhuwat USA tirelessly strives towards its mission of a poverty-free world by enabling those less-privileged with continued means of income generation that could provide for their well-being.
Relentless support from donors like you Akhuwat has so far provided 1873 interest-free loans to those less fortunate in Pakistan through our Global Giving project. Having a success rate of 99.4%, Akhuwat recycled 117 loans in 9 months. Recycled loans mean that 117 beneficiaries who took an interest-free loan from the funds generated through our Global Giving project were able to pay back their loans within 9 months which were then handed out to new beneficiaries, hence, starting a new cycle. We at Akhuwat, take pride in doing our part towards a prosperous society that includes people from all walks of lives and genders. As part of this project, Akhuwat USA has prioritized its focus on empowering financially frail women to enable them with the means that earns them a sustainable stream of income.
As part of this quarter’s report, Akhuwat USA is proud to publish the success story of Azra. An unmarried 62-year-old woman from Lahore known by the name of Azra Aapa (not her legal last name) was a senior-level manager of a now-closed BCCI bank based in London. At the peak of her career, she owned several high-end properties in London and Lahore, Pakistan worth millions of dollars. Azra has 9 post-graduate degrees in various fields such as accounting, finance, banking investments, and has successfully undertaken more than 700 short courses from all over the world. She worked with BCCI for over 25 years before she decided to move to Pakistan when her bank decided to close its doors for business. Upon her arrival in Pakistan, she opened a boutique in Lahore and made several other investments.
In her new journey of entrepreneurship and investments, she became a victim of a series of frauds by her friends and family. Azra was deprived of all her wealth and became homeless. She had no other means but to live with all of her belongings in a small badly damaged car by the road. Akhuwat learned about Azra Apa and decided to approach her to find a solution that could help her rebuild her life. Our volunteers worked relentlessly with Azra for emotional support to help her start a new phase of her life. Azra was given an interest-free loan of $500 that could help her in her new endeavor. One of Akhuwats employee volunteered to become a guarantor for the loan she was provided.
Azra rented a house and started a home-based tuition business. Akhuwat volunteers helped spread the word in their circle about Azra’s new business. Within the first 10 days of her launching home-based coaching services, 7 under-graduate and post-graduate students from several universities signed up for her coaching. Azra's’ interest-free loan tenure was 12 months but having several students signed up for her classes so early in her new business she was able to return her loan amount within one month, one of its kind success stories in the journey of Akhuwat. It’s been a little over two months that Azra started her home-based tuition services and more than 20 students have signed up for her classes. Seeing an overwhelming response, Azra has hired the services of three university teachers to help her cope with high levels of students signing up. She now runs two coaching sessions to accommodate a large number of students. Akhuwat USA is planning to make a documentary on the success story of Azra with the help of an international media conglomerate.
Beneficiaries of Akhuwats’ entrepreneurship based interest-free microloan like Azra, financial independence would have remained a constant struggle if were not for avid donors like you. Since 18 years of our work in Pakistan and changing one life at a time, Akhuwat is proud to have transformed the lives of more than 3.4 million people in Pakistan with a total loan portfolio now amounting to more than $600 Million. Although we take pride in our achievements, there are still many who await our help in lifting them from a life of financial exclusion to a life of well-being. Your kind donation, as little as it may be can be a beacon of hope for those less fortunate.
Donate generously!
Together we strive for a poverty-free society built on the principles of Compassion and Equality.
Kind Regards,
Azhar Hameed
Volunteer President
Akhuwat USA
Dear Donors,
Akhuwat USA continues to work tirelessly towards its mission of a poverty-free world by enabling those less-privileged through sustainable means of revenue generation that could not only provide for their well-being but for their families.
Through this project of Akhuwat USA and with your relentless support, more than 1673 interest-free loans have been disbursed so far to those less fortunate in Pakistan. We take pride in doing our part towards a prosperous society that includes people from all walks of lives and genders. Through this project, Akhuwat USA has prioritized its focus on empowering the financially fragile women to enable them with the means that earns them a sustainable stream of income.
To name one, Shabana, 38 years old divorced women from Sialkot was going through a rough phase of life after her divorce. A mother of 2, Taimoor (12) and Nimrah (8) was left without any means of income since her divorce. She had taken refuge in her brother’s home where she was being consistently picked upon by her brother and her wife for being a financial burden on them. Having previously worked in a sports factory before her marriage, Shabana approached Akhuwat for an interest-free loan of $300 to start her own small scale business of tennis ball manufacturing. Two months forward, Shabana is doing well in her new business venture. She has not only been able to pay for her kids’ education but is also contributing a good amount towards her brother’s household income. With her business looking promising, Shabana is hopeful that not only will she be able to pay back her loan amount earlier than the agreed timeframe but will also be able to move out of her brothers’ house and rent a separate house to live with her kids in a life of dignity. Her son Taimoor aspire to become an airforce pilot while Nimrah wishes to become a doctor. Akhuwat USA, on behalf of their avid supporters, wishes Shabana and her children a very happy and prosperous future.
Beneficiaries of Akhuwats’ entrepreneurship based interest-free microloan like Shabanas’ dream of financial independence would have remained an uphill battle had it been not for enthusiast donors like you. Since 18 years of our work in Pakistan and changing one life at a time, Akhuwat USA is proud to have transformed the lives of more than 3 million people in Pakistan. Although we take pride in our achievements, there are still millions who await our help in lifting them from a life of financial exclusion to a life of well-being. Your kind donation as little as it may be can be a beacon of hope to those less fortunate.
Donate generously!
Kind Regards
Azhar Hameed
Volunteer President
Akhuwat USA
Dear Donors,
Akhuwat USA has taken several initiatives to create awareness among our donor community about the importance of eradicating poverty by providing poor the financial means that generates a continuous stream of revenue generation for them.
With your unwavering support, Akhuwat USA has so far disbursed entrepreneurship interest-free microloans to 937 borrowers across Pakistan from the funds raised through our GlobalGiving partner. Our borrowers come from all religions in Pakistan and belong to both genders. Extra efforts are being undertaken to enable more women to become entrepreneurs and help them become financially independent.
To name a few, Anila and Rubina approached Akhuwat for an interest-free loan that would enable them to make a living for themselves and their families. Anila, a divorced woman and a mother of a 19-year-old boy from Walton, Lahore was struggling to make her ends meet after her father who was the sole bread runner of the family died from a heart attack this February. After due diligence, She was handed a loan of $350 (PKR 50,000) from which she bought a second-hand rickshaw (tuk-tuk). Her son Arshad who is a high school student drives the tuk-tuk in the afternoon until midnight. Anila and Arshad together are now making an average of PKR 2000 per day.
Rubina, a widowed mother of a 16-year-old girl from Azizabad, Karachi approached Akhuwat for an interest-free loan. She had planned to start an embroidery business after she was recently let go from her job at garments manufacturing factory. Rubina was handed a loan of $200 (PKR 22000) to enable her to start her own business from which bought raw materials and equipment. From the past one month after securing an interest-free loan from Akhuwat, Rubina is earning between PKR 1500-3000 per article she makes. Her daughter Anum helps her mother after school time and plans to help her mother expand her mother's new business.
Anila and Rubina lives would not have turned around if it were not for the relentless support to Akhuwat's mission of poverty alleviation from donors like you. However, there is still much needed to be done for those 42 million less fortunate people in Pakistan living in extreme poverty who are waiting for assistance. Your kind donation of any size can start an infinite wave of hope among those less privilege.
Donate generously!
Kind Regards
Azhar Hameed
Volunteer President
Akhuwat USA
