1,000 Microloans for Rural Women in East Africa

Dear Supporters,

We wish you a Happy Spring and thank you for your support over the past year. As many international aid organizations have been forced to shrink due to the loss of US Government support, we are happy to report that WMI continues to thrive. Our strong base of individual and foundation supporters continues to grow, and we continue to meet the growing demand for our services.

Equally important, each loan hub is designed to be self-sustaining – loan interest income covers all operating expenses after the hub’s second year. And the loan capital is a permanent resource to the local community. New funding that WMI receives goes to expanding the loans hubs and enables us to offer higher loan amounts as the women become more experienced borrowers. We are also able to assist with local needs, such as meeting space, offices and equipment.

Let’s meet a few WMI borrowers at the Buyobo Loan Hub in Zesui, Uganda! Oliva, Fatuma, Dorothy and Nulu were all issued a WMI loan in the amount of 600,000 UGX (around $160) and used the capital to expand their business. 

Oliva, 56 years old, and Fatuma, 43, sell fresh vegetables at the local market. Fatuma was able to purchase a cow with her new loan and now sells cow’s milk in addition to fresh vegetables. Dorothy, 34, used her loan to expand her drug shop and patient clinic. She has even hired two additional nurses to meet the growing demand for services! Nulu, 38, also increased her inventory with her fourth WMI loan. She now sells shoes and sweaters in addition to new and second-hand clothing. 

With the extra income generated by each woman’s own business venture, the borrowers’ home and work life have seen significant improvements. Oliva and her husband were able to renovate their home with her business income. Once a woman obtains a WMI loan and launches her business, husbands often begin to support the business and help it thrive, which Oliva and Fatuma have reported in their interviews with WMI.

Both Fatuma and Dorothy were able to purchase a cow with their profits. In Uganda, livestock like cows are valuable assets to own because they produce milk and can always be sold for cash. Dorothy’s success has enabled her to pay for her children’s school fees and provide medical care for her family.

All four women hope to receive larger loans in the amount of 100,000 UGX ($275) to expand their operations. Oliva, Fatuma, Dorothy, and Nulu are shining examples of how investing in and empowering women builds better lives. 

Thank you so much for your generous support. Your generosity and consideration in choosing to support WMI is giving African women the chance to work their way out of poverty and stay out of poverty. Every contribution, every act of kindness, every outreach gesture is gratefully received and put to good use. Less than 2% of our donations go to overhead. With no paid US administrative staff or bureaucracy, your donations can go directly to loans and business training for these deserving women!