Grameen Foundation : Get involved : What Friends are Saying : Ann's Story
Ann Margolin's Story
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| Ann (left) and Jane
(right) Margolin |
"Several years ago I learned about microfinance and realized that it is a powerful solution to the epidemic of world poverty. I joined Lucy Billingsley and a group of women to visit Grameen Foundation’s microfinance partner, Al Sol, in Chiapas, Mexico. As the result of seeing microfinance in action we came home and formed The Chiapas Project in support of Grameen Foundation’s work to expand microfinance in Latin America. As a businesswoman and The Chiapas Project’s first board president, I want to help poor women get the loans they need to start or expand their businesses.
My daughter Jane and I visited borrowers with AlSol last summer, and the positive impact of the loans they are receiving could be seen everywhere. With a small loan, women can create embroidered goods and sell them. This in turn, allows them to buy additional food and provide education for their children. In the process they become more independent and develop greater respect within their communities. Having the opportunity to connect with borrowers on an individual basis and share a meal prepared by them was a great honor for both myself and my daughter. It affirmed the work of The Chiapas Project and the Grameen Foundation and that microfinance works. We must now continue to work to bring microfinance to more poor women in Chiapas and throughout the world."
The Chiapas Project is a network of volunteers in Dallas, Texas working to raise $3.5 million dollars for Grameen Foundation’s work in Latin America.
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Grameen Foundation : Get involved : What Friends are Saying : Ann's Story
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
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