GF eNewsletter March 2008

 March 2008 eNewsletter

In this issue

Get Involved

1. Spread the word about Grameen Foundation

2. Donate online. You and a $90 loan can make a difference. Give more women a chance out of poverty with a gift of hope today.

 

GF Celebrates Women on the Front Lines of Microfinance


With the help of MFIs such as NWTF, poor women become entrepreneurs.
For nearly 100 years, International Women's Day has celebrated the political, economic and social accomplishments of women, while striving for even greater equality and change throughout the world. As Grameen Foundation strives to provide economic opportunities for impoverished women around the world, we take this opportunity to celebrate the women leaders at the front lines of our mission. These women span the regions in which we work, bringing with them a passion for defeating poverty influenced by their lives, their families and their communities.

Grameen-Jameel: One Year and 200,000 clients later...


Grameen-Jameel has helped more than 200,000 clients start new businesses.

Grameen-Jameel Pan-Arab Microfinance Ltd. (Grameen-Jameel), the first social business in the Arab World, is celebrating its one year anniversary with the opening of its new headquarters in Dubai's International Humanitarian City. Grameen-Jameel works through a network of partner microfinance institutions (MFIs) that share its values: commitment to reaching women and the poorest; aggressive growth plans; and financial sustainability. In 2007 alone, it reached more than 200,000 new clients. More

MENA Client Profile
Fatima, Yemen Women's Center Abyan


Fatima now runs a clothing shop.

"I have never thought that I would be able to earn money and support my whole family." These are the words of 27 year-old Fatima, a university graduate living in the poverty-stricken rural area of Abyan, Yemen. Armed with a history degree, and the hope and determination to succeed regardless of the harsh job market, Fatima, encouraged by a friend, joined the Yemen Women's Association in Abyan. The association provides small loans at reasonable rates to people, especially women, who would not qualify for conventional loans. More

FONKOZE Opens Way for Millions to Flow to Haiti


The Fonkoze-CNB card will bring even more financial access to Haiti.

Grameen Foundation partner Fonkoze (Haiti) has forged an innovative new partnership with the Central National Bank of Enid, Oklahoma, (CNB) that will help boost its remittances program. Through the alliance, CNB will issue a prepaid card for Fonkoze which can be used to send remittances of up to $2,500 per day to Haiti for only $6. More

GF President Releases New Book

In his compelling new book, Small Loans, Big Dreams, Alex Counts, president and CEO of Grameen Foundation, tells the story of microfinance through the eyes of both the borrowers and the leaders of microfinance. Available nationwide in April 2008.

 

Newsbriefs

BLOG WITH US! Newly Launched Social Business Blog Stimulates Debate: Where do you stand on social business?

1. What role should for-profit companies play in promoting positive social change in developing countries such as China? Tell us!

2. In Creating a World Without Poverty, Dr. Yunus challenges young people to take up the cause of defeating global poverty, specifically through creating social businesses. Are young people prepared to shoulder this responsibility? Tell us!

GROWTH GUARANTEES Generate $10 Milllion in First Quarter 2008: Since crossing its $100 million milestone last fall, the Grameen Foundation Growth Guarantees program has generated almost $10 million in local currency placements in the first quarter of 2008, bringing total placements to $122.2 million. This expansion also recorded Grameen Foundation's first Growth Guarantee transactions in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

More than 87 percent of the original $31 million pool is committed, and we are currently fundraising for $29 million in commitments for the second round of the Growth Guarantees.

VILLAGE PHONE Deploys Training in Phillipines: The Village Phone Direct (VPD) team will hold its first regional training workshop April 22-24 in the Philippines. The event is being hosted by Grameen Foundation partner NWTF, the first Asian MFI to adopt VPD in 2006. Participants from several countries, including Samoa, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Samoa will benefit from NWTF's insights and experience in rolling Village Phone out in the Philippines.

This workshop kicks off a year-long series of regional trainings that will be conducted in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.

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