Winter 2008   Grameen Foundation E-newsletter

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In this issue Should Access to Credit be a Human Right?  Fonkoze Helping Haitians to Recover After Hurricanes   Author Advocates for Social Investment GF COO Sal Pappalardo to Serve on Thunderbird Global Council     Oikocredit & Grameen Foundation: Partnering to Grow Poverty-Focused Microfinance GF Offers Two Ways to Make Holiday Gifts Meaningful Hooks Book Events Gives Back to GF MFIs prepare for the World of Investment Financing

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Human Rights Day Should Access to Credit be a Human Right? GF President and CEO Alex Counts argues that access to credit is so crucial to participation in a global economy that it is a fundamental human right. More    Americas: Haiti  Fonkoze Helping Haitians to Recover After Hurricanes    In the aftermath of a hurricane that killed more than 1,000 Haitians and affected an additional 650,000 GF partner Fonkoze has launched an initiative to help the nation's poor rebuild their lives. More   GF News  Oikocredit Case Study Highlights Success of Progress Out of Poverty Index The GF Progress Out of Poverty Index™ Series recently published a case study that describes the role of the Grameen Foundation in developing training programs for Oikocredit partner microfinance institutions in the Philippines and Peru. Read the case study. GF News  Hooks Book Events Gives Back to GF Perry Hooks, founder of Hooks Book Events--a minority, women-owned book event company-- and colleague Loretta Yenson have embarked on a “giveback” campaign to support Grameen Foundation.  To date, Hooks Book Events has arranged seven events for Grameen Foundation President Alex Counts, to discuss his latest book, Small Loans, Big Dreams.  For more information on Hooks Book Events, please visit: http://www.hooksbookevents.com/. GF News  GF COO Sal Pappalardo to Serve on Thunderbird Global Council  GF COO Sal Pappalarado will serve on the Thunderbird School of Global Management's Global Council. As a member of the Council, Pappalarado will advise on strategic issues to fulfill the school's mission of creating global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide.

GF News  GF Offers Two Ways to Make Holiday Gifts Meaningful Take a look at meaningful gifts for friends & family that enable poor families to escape poverty. The 2008 Grameen Foundation Gift Catalog will make a lasting impression on the people in your life. Or go to StopPovertyNow.org and make a dedication to someone special in your life. Donor Spotlight: Scott Budde GF Supporter Scott Budde Makes the Case for Socially Responsible Investing Scott Budde, Managing Director, Global Social and Community Investing at TIAA-CREF and long-time GF supporter, explains how a carefully-chosen investment strategy can yield both profit and positive social change. More     Read Scott's blog contribution to Creating a World Without Poverty Asia: China  MFIs prepare for the World of Investment Financing Mastering the art of attracting international investments is becoming increasingly important as MFIs seek creative ways to finance new loans for the world’s poor. An Investment Readiness training in Shanghai, China showed local MFIs's how to tap into this promising market. More Reader Poll: Voice Your Opinion In his commentary, GF President Alex Counts argues that credit is essential to achieve a decent standard of living. Do you believe access to credit is a fundamental human right? Tell us! Last Month's Poll: Can Profit and Poverty Alleviation Co-exist? Featured Response: It is nowadays un-debatable that microfinance is viewed as a very powerful instrument to alleviate poverty more precisely in developing countries like Benin Republic (west Africa).Thousands and thousands of people generally excluded from classic banking systems are today able to enterprise small business to sustain their families and to expect a better life. Nevertheless, MFI management is extremely expensive these times because of new technology and new know-how. To cover these charges, MFI managers have to profit by loans. Doing so, MFI companies are probably sacrificing their commitment and I am afraid they would turn to a banking system one day. That is why it is necessary for developing countries governments to sustain MFI companies in terms of financial and technical assistance in order to reduce MFIs pressure upon their customers. Aime Akan