Grameen Foundation : Resource Center : Print Newsletter : Fall 2005 : A Client's Story: Um Batta in Egypt
A Client's Story: Um Batta Sews Up a Better Future
Um Batta in Egypt begins her own embroidery business with help from our partner Al-Tadamun.
In Egypt, microfinance is making a difference for people like Um Batta. After seeing how her sister-in-law had benefited from tiny loans from our partner microfinance institution Al-Tadamun, Um Batta founded her own embroidery business with a microloan, secured with her sister-in-law’s help. Um purchased clothes on credit, added hand-stitched embroidery and sold the clothes for a healthy profit. Her skills led to her being hired as an independent contractor for a wedding dress factory.Now brides-to-be are knocking on her door for her embroidery work on their dresses. Eventually, she hopes she will be able to open her own embroidery and tailor shop where she can do the whole job, from sewing dresses to decorating them. Al-Tadamun receives financing, onsite technical support, and training from the Grameen-Abdul Latif Jameel Initiative. The Initiative, a partnership between GFUSA and the Abdul Latif Jameel Company, aims to reduce poverty in the Arab World by expanding microfinance opportunities for the poor in the region.
Grameen Foundation : Resource Center : Print Newsletter : Fall 2005 : A Client's Story: Um Batta in Egypt
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.
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