Grameen Foundation : Get involved : Gift Catalog : $250
$250 - A woman can connect her village to the world.
 |
| Before Susan became a Village Phone operator, her village was cut off from the world. |
By choosing this gift, you're making a donation that goes into our unrestricted fund, The Sams Fund, to support Grameen Foundation and microfinance and technology programs in developing countries to improve the lives of the poor.
With a loan of $250, a woman could connect her village to the world.
Who would have thought that a small shop would become a mobile technology hub to a small village in Rwanda? Susan Ny’ralagende, a widow in Ngenda, was the force behind it. Before, in her tiny shop, she sold mostly ubushera, a local beverage. However, her income was never enough. After hearing about the Village Phone Program, she took out a $250 microloan to buy a mobile phone kit. She became a “Village Phone Operator” (VPO ) and her mobile phone became the community’s pay phone. The village is now connected to a world of information, such as market prices for produce, news of distant relatives, health information and more. Since becoming a VPO , Susan has doubled her income, and that means a more secure life and future for her family.
About Village Phone
Millions of people throughout the world lack easy, affordable access to a phone. Making a phone call for information on health, fair market prices for goods, or family members, often means walking miles to the nearest town to ask in person or to use a phone. Through the Village Phone program, a borrower receives a microloan to buy a mobile phone and kit to open a “Village Phone” business. Villagers pay affordable rates to make calls on the phone. With profits from the pay phone business, borrowers can repay their loans and make investments in their children’s health, nutrition and education.
Grameen Foundation : Get involved : Gift Catalog : $250
Grameen Foundation uses microfinance and innovative technology to fight global poverty and bring opportunities to the world's poorest people. With tiny loans and financial services, we help the poor, mostly women, start businesses and escape poverty. Our global network of 55 microfinance institution (MFI) partners including our Growth Guarantee partners has touched more than 34 million people in 24 countries. In addition, we introduced and now sustain technology initiatives (Mifos and Village Phone) in Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, bringing our total country outreach to 28.
+1-202-628-3560 www.grameenfoundation.org
You can help