Village Banking - Micro Loans as a way out of poverty.
Micro-loans can make a life-altering difference for women trying to lift themselves out of poverty. There are an estimated 1/5 billion people worldwide in poverty. Nearly half of all impoverished families in the developing world depend on the income generated by women.
For most of these impoverished people, small loans would allow them to improve a business or start a new one. Based on information from FINCA, a loan as small as $25.00 can allow a Guatemalan woman to sell more tortillas, providing her with the extra income she needs to keep her children in school.
Village banking, which uses the principles of self-help and free enterprise provides impoverished individuals with loans - not hand-outs. Micro loans build discipline, self-confidence, responsibility and independence, as women create and grow their own businesses. Women have proven to be responsible borrowers, diligent savers and competent managers. They use their income almost exclusively to benefit their children.
Micro-loans can be the foundation of solid solutions to poverty rather than merely a 'band-aid' of sporatic charity or hand-outs that merely gloss over the problem. As each loan is repaid, the borrower's credit line increases, empowering the borrower to do even more.
Village banks can truly be a way out of poverty for millions, and by donating to them, you can be sure your donation will immediately help at least one person make a palpable difference for herself and her children.
Make a donation to a micro-loan organization today. Finca, www.villagebanking.org and, www.Kiva.org are great places to start. Click on links to help today, or donate to www.50ways.org and we'll donate it for you.
