Project Report
| Dec 18, 2012
"My Small Business Helps Me Take Care of My Family" And The Evidence of Success is....
By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader
![Jariatu - Microfinance beneficiary]()
Jariatu - Microfinance beneficiary
What's the evidence of success - in terms of changing lives? I submit 2 criteria for your consideration:
1. To be able to hear this directly from the beneficiary himself or herself. This means that the beneficiary has done a self-assessment and is able to experience and express the impact, change and transition.
2. To be able to see / hear of the on-going impact, after a year or two. In other words, to be able to see that the change is lasting and not just a flash in the pan / temporary fix.
This is the sum of Jariatu's video testimony where she explains that that through the funds that she has received, she runs a cookery business (a small local restaurant selling rice and local dishes). Through the proceeds of this business, she is able to pay school fess for her children and take care of other household needs. She has been doing this for 2 years now and has no debt.
Change is not change until it is verifiable and permanent change.
Thank you for being a part of Jariatu's story, for helping to effect verifiable, lasting change. This is what changing lives is all about and we are so grateful for your support that made this possible. With Jariatu, we says a big "thank you" to you - the GlobalGiving donors - that helped to provide the funds for her business.
Taking Our impact to The Next Level: In the video Jariatu expresses a desire for additional funds to enable her to buy the supplies she needs wholesale (rice and oil). Can you join us and help make this happen for her? We are hoping to provide new loans to many more small business owners in early 2013 - and your donation of $30 a month will help us do that. Your support is needed and important because it will help provide a life-line of independence to many families. Knowing that we can count on your $30 or more each month will provide ongoing progress - helping us to provide for the entire community. Your recurring donations will be a predictable stream of income, making it easier for us to plan financially.
Right now is a great time to sign up for a recurring donation as during the month of December, GlobalGiving is offering a 100% match on all initial recurring donations up to $100 per donor. Your recurring donation could also help us win a $500 bonus award! You have to sign up now in order for your donation to count during this campaign. Thanks for your support!
Sign up now - start your recurring donation - helping to provide many more loans!
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Sep 5, 2012
You have played a great role in my life and my family!
By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader
![Rugiatu - microfinance beneficiary]()
Rugiatu - microfinance beneficiary
It's exciting to be a part of making change happen and its uplifting to hear that we are positively helping to better the lives of people. This is the message that we get from the video of Rugiatu. Rugiatu is a small business food vendor in Freetown and has received microfinance / microcredit funding that helped her start and grow her business.
Rugiatu explains in the video that the business has helped her send her children to school and meet their needs. She expresses her deep appreciation and says - "You have played a great role in my life and my family!" Her video reminds us yet again that our investment and donations towards this project are having a great impact. Our support means so much to the beneficiaries and is deeply appreciated.
She ends the video with an appeal for additional funding to expand her business further. We welcome your support that will help her take her business to the next level.
Upcoming News: We are in the process of planning our next small business training session for microfinance beneficiaries. In partnership with AIDSL, we are also planning to hold special sessions that will train over 200 youths on various aspects such as how to run a business, entrepreneurial skills, modern financial management and resource mobilization. More on this shortly...
On behalf of Rugiatu and all the other beneficiaries, I gratefully say "Thank you so much!"
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May 29, 2012
Microfinance Beneficiary Discusses The Secret To Business Success
By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader
![Abioseh - Successful Microfinance Beneficiary]()
Abioseh - Successful Microfinance Beneficiary
It's our pleasure to again share another video from one of our microfinance beneficiaries - Abioseh. In this video, Abioseh is interviewed in Krio (local language) by Joanne, one of our Coordinators in Sierra Leone. The video is sub-titled in English. The video is insightful because it shares her perspective on the secret to her success. She explains that thanks to the funds received was her business has progressed. She has been able to expand / add more items to the business - which she was not able to do before. She also has more stock at her home business. This has helped a lot because she does borrow money from anyone. She explains that she is able to conduct her business independently.
Secret to Business Success: When asked why she has been successful in repaying funds loaned, Abioseh says that other people do not have "business skills". She says (translated) "they should learn skills to help them to know how to do business. I was born into a family that ran a small business. I am always prudent and skilled in allocating my resources. In addition I can also manufacture one of the items I sell ..."
She closes the interview with a message for Develop Africa donors, Global Giving donors and partners - "I am continually thanking them for everything that they have done and are doing. I really praise them as one would praise God because of the way that they have helped. I am able to support my grandchildren. They have increased my finance which puts the business in a better place. ... I pray also for them so God can continue to bless them.
In an article by Finca on microfinance - Is microfinance an engine of development? Finca says yes. The article clearly demonstrates that "on one level, and in the right circumstances – microcredit can yield tangible results for the world's poor, whatever its critics might say." This is clearly trhe case with Abioseh and countless others. We are together through this project making a real difference.
Construction Update: In other news from Freetown, construction is in progress at the Develop Africa Empowerment and Training Institute. This institute is one of our launch pads for microfinance training / support and we need approximately $2000 USD to complete construction. Please make a generous donation today that will help us complete this center. Thanks for your support.
Your Donations Matched on June 13th: GlobalGiving will be matching donations on June 13th. This is a great time to make a donation as the funds donated will go even further.
Upcoming Father's Day Gift Suggestion: In closing, we wanted to let you know of the on-going opportunity to make a donation in honor of the special person in your life. A donation to this project is a fantastic (and easy) gift for Dad on Father’s Day! You can make a donation as a gift to your Dad on this project by selecting the third giving option, “gift or in honor of,” under the orange donate button on the project page. GlobalGiving will then send your Dad or the gift recipient an email, print-at-home, or physical card. GlobalGiving offers several fun card designs and you will have the option of choosing a design customized for this project, using the project’s main photo (this option is available for email and print-at-home cards).
Fathers - you can also request this as your Father's day gift!
Make your donation in Father's honor and support a great cause today!
Thanks again for all you do to empower small businesses!
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