Micro Loans For Women Impacted by HIV/AIDS, Zambia

Thanks again for your continued support for our work in the area of women's empowerment and community strengthening in Zambia. As you know our goal is to empower women by teaching them marketable skills so they can take better care of their families, keep their children in school, and become role model for others in the community. Today we would like to share a few exciting developments in our micro loans program.  

Exciting developments in the past 12 months: 

• Program expansion: A record number of 100 new loans were provided in 2016 bringing the total number of active loans to 372.
• Business Training: A record number of 372 women were provided with business training since November 2015. This implies that 372 new women are now equipped with marketable skills that will enable them to take better care of their families and make their communities stronger as they share their learning with others. 
• Business Club: Some of our graduates formed a business club with the goal of mentoring current loan recipients whose businesses are not doing well and encouraging others. Proud of these dynamic ladies.
• Higher value items: Many women have started businesses with higher value items such as jewelry, bed sheets, pre-paid cell phone cards, wedding accessories etc.
• Repayment rates:  Repayment rates continue to be in the range of 90-92% in spite of the difficult circumstances of our loan recipients. Most loan recipients are taking care of family members living with HIV, and many are HIV+ themselves. In addition, many loan recipients are grandmothers taking care of multiple orphaned grandchildren. 
• Businesses in the community: More than 300 businesses are being run by women who have graduated from our program over the last 8-10 years. These women continue to work hard to build their capital and expand their businesses. Businesses run by graduates are in addition to the 372 businesses being run by current loan recipients.  

Thanks as always - we could not have achieved any of this without your support.