Join our Kiva lending team

Join the LAMN’s lending team at http://www.kiva.org/community/viewTeam/?team_id=5653

Let’s make a difference by giving small real loan!

Newsweek Article: Microfinance: The Next Bubble?

Newsweek post an article about microfinance, for the link click HERE

Microfinance: The Next Bubble?

Mac Margolis

Our Rio de Janeiro correspondent, Mac Margolis, delves into a new microfinance study, and wonders whether the much-lauded sector is about as efficacious as a subprime CDO and as bubbly as a Pets.com equity option. –BWS

The international financial crisis has destroyed many certainties, but one of the touted survivors is the old saw that small is beautiful. Sure, no one is flogging mansions to paupers anymore. But microfinance is still flourishing, and even expanding. Ever since Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus started handing out small loans to the poor in 1974, the idea that a little credit can help peasants and simple villagers climb out of poverty has swept the map. Civic groups, the World Bank, even commercial lenders have gotten into the act, capturing millions of barefoot clients across the developing world. Today microfinance is a global growth industry. It reaped Yunus the Nobel prize. Even the developed world is catching on. Grameen Bank, the Bangladesh-based microlender Yunus founded, opened a branch in Queens, New York, last year and plans to unveil another in Omaha, Nebraska. Take that, Citicorp.

But hold that confetti. Two U.S. economists–David Roodman, of the Center for Global Development, and Jonathan Morduch, of New York University–recently reran the numbers on microfinance’s heralded miracles and came away with a much murkier picture. After reviewing seminal studies on microcredit in Bangladesh, they concluded in a working paper that while microcredit is not hurting people, there is also no hard evidence that it is helping them much.

Since it emerged in the 1970s, the idea that the poor, with no equity but their own gumption, could borrow their way to prosperity has had its skeptics, as we noted in these pages a couple of years ago. But Grameen’s boosters were undaunted. They pointed to a number of high-powered studies showing impressive poverty reduction in even the most wretched places. Yunus’s claim “that five percent of Grameen borrowers get out of poverty every year” became the movement’s mantra. What Roodman and Morduch have done is to retrieve these same studies and put them under the looking glass.

Their paper is heavy going, stuffed with econometric arcana (“homoskedasticity”, “Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity”) and mathematical formulae that readers should not try at home. Still the conclusions are plain enough. Microfinance may help some lenders through hard times, tiding them over in lean periods, but the studies that show microcredit is a market-based tool to help the poor hoist themselves out of want are based on data that are hard to verify and, in some cases, flawed. If prosperity and lending often go together, they noted, it is nearly impossible to say which causes which. “Strikingly,” write Roodman and Morduch, “30 years into the microfinance movement we have little solid evidence that it improves the lives of clients in measurable ways.” That’s an unfortunate conclusion for a sector that now totals $25 billion worldwide, according to Deutsche Bank, with another $1.5 billion in new microloans every year; if current growth continues, the market will increase tenfold by 2015. Could microfinance be the next bubble?

Can’t make the Microfinance California conference?

If you aren’t able to attend the May 28th Microfinance Conference, you can still join in for the the LIVE webcast at 9:00 am PST for the opening remarks and keynote by John Stumpf, CEO of Wells Fargo.

http://www.microfinancecalifornia.org/webcast/

9:00 am PST
Opening Remarks and Keynote Address

Speakers:
Premal Shah, Kiva
Eric Weaver, Opportunity Fund
Emmett Carson, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mike Billeci, Regional President, Greater Bay Area, Wells Fargo
John Stumpf, CEO, Wells Fargo

9:30 am PST
How Microfinance Works in the US: Products, Services, and Risk Management

Description:
Explore the nuts and bolts of microfinance in the U.S. including discussion of the loan application process, technical assistance, portfolio risk, interest rates and payment terms. Learn the key differences between international and domestic microfinance. How is the current economic climate affecting potential borrows and how are microfinance lenders responding to these trends?

The Bottom of the Pyramid in Practice: Microfinance Event at UCI

Microfinance event in nearby Los Angeles:

For schedule and information, visit the institute’s website at www.imtfi.uci.edu . To register, please email Jenny Fan by May 27th at imtfi@uci.edu or call (949) 824-2284.

The Institute for Money, Technology & Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) presents: The Bottom of the Pyramid in Practice

Monday, June 1st 1:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 2nd 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Doheny Beach Conference Room, Student Center University of California, Irvine

The “bottom of the pyramid” (BoP) – the four billion people who live on less than $2 per day – has been discovered by development and business alike, as a target market, a potential revenue stream, and a focus for development strategies. This workshop brings together leading researchers from academia, industry and development to better understand the BoP in practice, to assess some of the claims and reflect on the concept itself as it has circulated and transformed, with a special focus on information and communication technologies.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Bill Maurer, UC Irvine

Isha Ray, UC Berkeley

Aishwarya Ratan, Microsoft Research India

John Sherry, Intel Corporation

Olga Morawczynski, University of Edinburgh

Savita Bailur, London School of Economics

Anke Schwittay, RiOS Institute

Tony Salvador, Intel Corporation

Dawn Nafus, Intel Corporation

Paul Thomas, Intel’s Chief Economist

Renee Kuriyan, Intel Corporation

Scott Mainwaring, Intel Corporation

Hsain Illhaine, Iowa State University

Julia Elyachar, UC Irvine

Paul Dourish, UC Irvine

Jo Tacchi, Queensland University of Technology

Samantha Cross, UC Irvine

Heather Horst, UC Irvine

Vijay Gurbaxani, CRITO

Mohammed Mohammed, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

For schedule and information, visit the institute’s website at www.imtfi.uci.edu . To register, please email Jenny Fan by May 27th at imtfi@uci.edu or call (949) 824-2284.

Sponsors: Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion, Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations at UC Irvine (CRITO), and Intel’s People and Practices Research Group

UCLA Social Enterpreneurship Conference – Kiva’s cofounder will be there

“The social entrepreneur changes the performance capacity of society.”
- Peter Drucker

UCLA Anderson Net Impact and SABA

Present

A multi-bottomline business conference:
“Social Entrepreneurship: From Inspiration to Impact”

Socially-oriented individuals, businesses and service organizations with entrepreneurial drive are piloting new ways to combat social dilemmas via innovative business models*. During this year’s annual South Asian Business Association conference, the lifecycle of a social enterprise will be highlighted, from the inspiration in the initial stages to measuring impact in the latter stages. Throughout the day, we will showcase social entrepreneurs that have used their business and leadership skills to develop and grow social enterprises that have meaningful impacts on their respected communities.
Friday, May 15
9.30am – 2.00pm

UCLA Anderson, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90024, room C301

Featured speakers include:
- Premal Shah, President of kiva.org and founder of the Silicon Valley Microfinance Network
- Lata Krishnan, President of the American India Foundation and Founder of the PE fund Shah Capital Partners
- Lakshmi Pratury, CEO of Ixoraa Media and TED India
Complimentary admission for all who register at: http://seucla.eventbrite.com/

Free for non-UCLA students, paking $9 at lot 4

———————
Schedule:
09:00-09:45    Registration
09:45-10:00    Opening Remarks
10:00-10:45    Address by Lakshmi Pratury: CEO, Ixoraa Media
10:45-11:30    Address by Lata Krishnan: President, American India Foundation
11:30-12:30    Authentic South Asian Lunch
12:30-01:00    Case Discussion
01:00-01:45    Address by Premal Shah: President, Kiva
01:45PM          Reception (Drinks/Snacks)

Speaker Information:

Lakshmi Pratury: CEO, Ixoraa Media; Global Capitalist Partners
After two decades in marketing, venture capitalism and social entrepreneurship, Lakshmi Pratury has recently turned her focus toward linking India more tightly with the American community. Her firm, Ixoraa Media, runs meetings and events to spark dialogue and make connections. Pratury worked at Intel for 12 years as a marketer and evangelist, and then moved to a venture capital firm, Global Capitalist Partners (”GCP”). At GCP, she focused on connecting India’s legendary software-development community with US technology firms. At the American India Foundation, she founded the Digital Equalizer program, offering technology education to approximately 80,000 children and 2,000 teachers in India.

Lata Krishnan: President, AIF; CFO, Shah Capital Partners
Lata Krishnan is the Vice Chair of the American India Foundation (AIF: www.aifoundation.org) since being involved in its founding in 2001. Krishnan is also the Chief Financial Officer of Shah Capital Partners, a leading mid-market technology private equity fund that was founded in 2003.  Shah Capital Partners has over $300 million of committed funds under management. Previously in 1989, Krishnan co-founded SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. and served as its Chief Financial Officer. In 1999, SMART merged with Solectron Corporation in a transaction valued at over $2 Billion. Prior to SMART, she held corporate accounting and finance positions at Montgomery Securities, Arthur Anderson & Company LLP, and Hill Vellacott & Company in London, England. Krishnan received a bachelor of science degree with honors from the London School of Economics and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Premal Shah: President, Kiva; Founder, Silicon Valley Microfinance Network
As President, Premal leads Kiva’s efforts to scale its partnerships and member base. Prior to Kiva, Premal was a Principal Product Manager at PayPal, an eBay company. During his 6 year career at PayPal, Premal drove a number of key initiatives including a year-long project defining eBay’s role in economically empowering the global working poor. In 1997, Premal was awarded a grant from Stanford University to research microfinance in Gujarat, India. More recently, Premal co-founded the Silicon Valley Microfinance Network and spent 2 months in India working to refine and validate Kiva’s model. In 2006, Premal was a featured speaker at the Clinton Global Initiative and Global Microcredit Summit.

San Diego Microfinance Summit

The San Diego Microfinance Summit
Thursday, May 7, 2009 • 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
University of San Diego
The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

Keynote Speaker, Lynn McMullen
Lynn McMullen has been engaged in the field of microfinance for over twenty years with federal
policy, advocacy, and program evaluation. More recently she has been working to develop programs for
AIDS orphans, vulnerable youth and voluntary home based care networks in rural South Africa.

GENERAL registration $25 • STUDENT registration $10
TO REGISTER and to learn more, please visit: www.sdmicrofinancesummit.org
Lunch included in price

Interested in Volunteering?
Contact Deana Gullo (dgullo@ucsd.edu) or Rashawana Chapman (rchapman100@pointloma.edu)

The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego is located at
5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA, 92110.

For directions and parking information, please visit:
http://peace.sandiego.edu/about/directions.html.
Join Us for

04/28 Presentation: Wokai

Casey Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO, Wokai

Wokai connects contributors worldwide with entrepreneurs in rural China to help them start small businesses.

Casey leads Wokai’s business strategy and development, Field Partner due-diligence evaluation, and public outreach. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wesleyan University with a BA in Economics. While at Wesleyan, Casey focused on economic development and its applications in the Chinese context.

If you have problem viewing the slides, go to http://www.slideshare.net/faqs#4d

04/28 Presentation: Opportunity International

This one is the slide by Jon Yasuda of Opportunity International

Jon Yasuda, Vice President, Opportunity International

Opportunity International provides small loans to poor entrepreneurs, allowing them to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. OI also offer savings, microinsurance, business training and many more services to 1.1 million working poor in 28 developing nations.

Jon is responsible for Opportunity International’s activities in the western third of the United States.  Mr. Yasuda was most recently a consultant in the media industry.  Prior to that, Mr. Yasuda was president and CEO of AsianMedia Group (AMG) from April 2001 till his resignation in June 2004.

04/28 Presentation: Micro Credit Summit

If you miss t the 04/28 presentation on Microfinance Industry Perspective: Lending, Organizing and Growing. Please take a look at Micro Credit Summit’s presentation above.

Kate McElligott, Director of Development, Microcredit Summit Campaign

The Microcredit Summit Campaign brings together microcredit practitioners, advocates, educational institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and others involved with microcredit to promote best practices in the field, to stimulate the interchanging of knowledge, and to work towards reaching its growth goals.

Kate is responsible for strategic planning and implementation of all fundraising efforts to reach the Campaign’s $1 million annual programming needs. Before joining the Campaign, Kate served as Executive Director at CCS Fundraising a prominent consulting firm conducting capital campaigns for non-profit clients across the country.

ASAP Intenship in Bangladesh

Got this posting from the Microfinance Working Group yahoo groups

ASAP Internships–Summer 2009 (BRAC, Bangladesh)

ASAP Internships–Summer 2009
Alliance of Students Against Poverty interns will provide a great
service to ASAP’s partner organizations by performing ethnographic
interviews of women living in extreme poverty and recording their
stories through audio, video, and photography. Our partner
organizations are some of the best microfinance institutions and
non-profit organizations in reaching the poorest of the poor through
livelihood development, skill training, and other preparatory programs.
Not only will ASAP’s partner organizations then be able to use these
materials on websites and in publications, but ASAP interns will gain a
greater understanding and appreciation for the life of individuals
living in extreme poverty. With this understanding and enthusiasm,
interns will organize chapters, mobilize students, and spread the ASAP
message in the United States and in the countries where they serve.

Interviews will focus on how our partner organizations have benefited
the lives of the women. In order to communicate effectively with the
clients, each intern will pair up with a local student who will serve as
a partner and interpreter. Throughout the intern’s time in country,
he/she will be responsible for keeping a daily journal of his/her
experience. These journals will include the written story of each
client, as the intern’s thoughts, feelings, and daily activities.
The client’s stories and media files will be given to the partner
organizations to be shared with donors as well as to promote their
programs and client success stories.

In addition, ASAP interns will have access to the stories and will be
able to share them with friends and family to educate them on the lives
of those living in extreme poverty. ASAP will use the stories and
journals collected by ASAP interns on our website to educate and inspire
students throughout the world. Each intern will also be responsible for
working with their local partner/interpreter to create a local ASAP
chapter in the host country.

ASAP interns will be responsible for the following:

Pre-departure:

* Be a dues paying member of ASAP:
<https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/AllianceofStudentsAgainstP/OnlineDonat
ion.html>
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/AllianceofStudentsAgainstP/OnlineDonati
on.html
<https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/AllianceofStudentsAgainstP/OnlineDonat
ion.html> * Demonstrate steps to organize, or show involvement in
an ASAP chapter. * All Interns raise at least $1000 for ASAP’s
international partners. Fundraising is an essential part of an
intern’s contribution to the people/partner organization of the
country in which the intern is serving. Eighty percent of the ASAP
intern’s fundraising goes to providing safety net
grants/micro-loans/support of the ultra-poor programs of ASAP’s
partner organizations. Fundraising efforts also raise awareness about
extreme poverty here in the US as you share the ASAP message with family
and friends. Thus your pre-departure fundraising allows you to make an
incredible contribution even before you get to the country where you
will be serving.
* ASAP requires its interns to educate themselves about the issues of
extreme poverty through reading online training materials and articles
so interns are prepared to serve most effectively upon arrival to the
country.
* Interns must purchase security and medical assistance insurance
through “International SOS”, have health insurance abroad,
obtain a passport and Visa, and get vaccinations and a physical exam.
Interns will also need to get malaria prophylaxis where necessary.
* Alliance of Students Against Poverty internships are available for
high school graduates that are 18 years or older.

Upon return:

* Becoming involved in the leadership of a local ASAP chapter or
starting a Chapter where one does not exist. * Presenting
experiences and knowledge gained to high school, middle school, and
elementary school students to educate them about extreme poverty and the
effective programs and solutions that are reaching and serving the
poorest of the poor.

Logistics and Requirements:

* Students will be deployed in Teams of 2-3. * Internships will
last approximately one month. * Students are responsible for
purchasing airfare and travelers insurance. * Each student selected
must attend a mandatory 2-3 day training at the end of May in
Washington, DC, and will be responsible for all related expenses. *
Each student will keep a daily journal of his/her experience.

Internship Host Country:

* Bangladesh: BRAC, Targeting the Ultra Poor (TUP) Program,
http://www.asap2025.org/page/bractargeting-the-ultra-poor
<http://www.asap2025.org/page/bractargeting-the-ultra-poor>

Qualifications:

* International and language experience is a plus. * However,
the most important qualification is a passion for ASAP’s mission and
desire to be involved in the ASAP movement. * Undergraduate or
Graduate student at an accredited University.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Patrick Crompton
(ptcrompton@asap2025.org <mailto:ptcrompton@asap2025.org> ) and Jon
Mangum (jgmangum@asap2025.org <mailto:jgmangum@asap2025.org> ) by May
5th. Students will be notified by May 7th of acceptance into the
program.

Click here <http://www.asap2025.org/page/2008-summer-interns> to view
the profiles of the 2008 Summer Interns.

Upcoming Event in Princeton (if you happen to be there)

PMO is a Princeton University student group that works to coordinate the efforts of students and community members by both encouraging discussion and promoting active involvement in the emerging field of microfinance.

We will be hosting our inaugural day-long colloquium on May 1, 2009 entitled: “Microfinance, Economic Development, and Global Health.”

We would love for your group to attend this free event! The colloquium will feature eleven speakers from a wide range of microfinance institutions and health organizations, organized into a variety of panel discussions and individual presentations. The event will serve as a great networking opportunity for professionals and student organizations involved in the microfinance field.

Please visit our website http://princetonmicrofinance.wordpress.com/spring-colloquium/ to see a complete event schedule, list of speakers, and registration form.
If you have any question email Jacob at jhiller@princeton.edu
Sincerely,

Jacob Hiller ‘10

President, Princeton Microfinance Organization

This Wednesday: USC Marshall Microfinance Association First Event

USC Marshall Microfinance Association is having our 1st speakers event,

Microfinance: Tool to Fight Global Poverty
      Wednesday, April 22nd at 8pm
                       HOH1
 

We have two confirmed speakers, Rajesh Sherma and Elizabeth Moore.

     ·        Rajesh Sharma, has been involved with Microfinance since getting inspired by a lecture by Dr. Mohammed Yunus at USC 3 years ago. He conducted an in-depth study of Microfinance in India as part of his final MBA project. He has written cases for FINCA International and UCLA faculty on microfinance operations and participated in panels at UCLA and University of Chicago microfinance events.
·         Elizabeth Moore, 2010 MBA, has worked in the Middle East consulting microfinance organizations, such as the Alexandria Business Association and Banque du Caire, for USAID/Chemonics International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

This event is extremely beneficial for both students and faculty who are interested in the field of microfinance.  If you have any question, please email Sherry Xu at xiaoruix@usc.edu

Thanks!

 

 

Microfinance Event on Tuesday, April 28th 2009

Los Angeles Microfinance Network presents an event organized by UCLA Anderson Net Impact

RSVP here

Lending, Organizing and Growing:

Industry Perspectives on Microfinance

April 28^th 2009

6 – 9pm

UCLA Anderson, Room B209

Refreshments will be served

Cost: $15 at the door for non UCLA students

There will only be 20 spots availabe for non UCLA students at this moment

Lending

Casey Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO, Wokai

Wokai connects contributors worldwide with entrepreneurs in rural China to help them start small businesses.

Casey leads Wokai’s business strategy and development, Field Partner due-diligence evaluation, and public outreach. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wesleyan University with a BA in Economics. While at Wesleyan, Casey focused on economic development and its applications in the Chinese context.

Jon Yasuda, Opportunity International

Jon Yasuda is Vice President, Western Region for Opportunity International, responsible for the western third of the United States. Mr. Yasuda was most recently a consultant in the media industry. Prior to that, Mr. Yasuda was president and CEO of AsianMedia Group (AMG) from April 2001 till his resignation in June 2004. Mr. Yasuda joined the company as senior vice president in January 1995. In his position, he was responsible for strategic planning and for the execution of the plans within the day-to-day operations for KSCI-TV in Los Angeles, California and KIKU-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Mr. Yasuda spent fourteen years in Spanish language television and radio. He was recruited to AMG from KVEA-TV, the Telemundo-owned station in Glendale, California where he served as general sales manager since July 1992. Mr. Yasuda began his broadcast career in 1981 at Univision’s KMEX-TV in Los Angeles where he held a number of sales and marketing positions. In 1989, Mr. Yasuda became general sales manager at Univision’s KWEX-TV in San Antonio, followed by general manager at Univision affiliate KSMS-TV in Monterey, California and then general sales manager at radio station La Voz in Los Angeles.

Mr. Yasuda has always been active with community service. Most recently, he sat on the executive board of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, the board of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Korean American Coalition, Asian Youth Center, Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, Huntington Hospital, Asian American Advertising Federation, Flintridge Preparatory School and the California Broadcasters Association. Mr. Yasuda has also served as president of the board of Pasadena Christian School, board member of the Boy Scouts of America (Monterey County) and the American Red Cross (Monterey County). In May of 2001, the City of Los Angeles honored Mr. Yasuda for his outstanding community service in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Through his leadership and vision, KSCI-TV established partnerships with close to thirty community-based organizations around the Los Angeles area.

A long-time resident of Los Angeles County, Mr. Yasuda received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is married to Silvia and they have two daughters, Andreana and Danielle.

Organizing

Kate McElligott, Director of Development, Microcredit Summit Campaign

The Microcredit Summit Campaign brings together microcredit practitioners, advocates, educational institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and others involved with microcredit to promote best practices in the field, to stimulate the interchanging of knowledge, and to work towards reaching its growth goals

Kate is Director of Development for the Microcredit Summit Campaign and is responsible for strategic planning and implementation of all fundraising efforts to reach the Campaign’s $1 million annual programming needs. Before joining the Campaign, Kathryn served as Executive Director at CCS Fundraising a prominent consulting firm conducting capital campaigns for non-profit clients across the country.

Growing

Ismael Venegas, ACCION USA

Bio to come

Agenda

6.00 – 6.30pm: Networking and refreshment

6.30 – 8.30pm: Presentation and Q&A

8.30 – 9.00pm: Networking

If you have any question, please email lamicrofinance@gmail.com

Visit Los Angeles Microfinance Network at http://microfinance.wordpress.com

To be a member of LAMN, join our yahoo groups at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/lamn/

Microfinance in the News: 3.25.09

Big companies take interest:
Barclays boss sees future in small stuff [telegraph.co.uk]
Pfizer Takes Steps to Provide Healthcare for China’s Poor [seekingalpha]

McKinsey Quarterly interviews Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, on focusing on women as workers:
Women and leadership: Learning from the social sector [McKinsey Quarterly]

Forbes gives a shoutout to Muhammad Yunus…
Think Small: A Fix For The Economic Crisis [forbes.com]
who put things into perspective on his trip to Japan…
Meltdown not the only crisis in the world [The Jakarta Post]
while the Economist offers some insights on how MFIs have held up so far…
Sub-par but not subprime [The Economist]

Kiva had an amazing last month…
Microfinance business thriving [SF Gate]
and is looking at high tech solutions…
What recession? IT innovations help Kiva expand its microfinance mission [computerworld]
elsewhere in the world though, rough patches..
Microfinance recruitment slowing [phnompenhpost.com]
Buzz around India’s microfinance sector quietens [ft.com]
Mexico’s Microfinance Industry Undergoes Shake-Up On Crisis [news.morningstar.com]
Micro-Finance Institutions Crumble As Economic Crisis Bites [thetidenews.com]

Pictures

Pictures from the Third Networking LAMN meeting:

Microfinance in the News: 3.07.09

A Hand Up: Microfinance in China [US-China Today]
New microfinance firms eye ’subprime segment’ [LiveMint]
From acorns to oak trees: how microfinance can change lives [guardian.co.uk]

USC Entrepreneurship Event Featuring co-Founder Kiva.org next Wednesday!

Krishna Shah has told us of the following event next week:

The USC Entrepreneurship center are having an event with Jessica Jackley, the co-founder of Kiva.org on March 11th.  The event is free and will be held at USC’s Davidson Conference Center.

Here is information on how to register https://mymarshall.usc.edu/mems/user/registerEvent.jsp?activity=getEventById&eventId=1081

MicroPlace Unpaid Internship

MicroPlace is looking for an unpaid intern to work on the  marketing strategy research.  If you are interested, please send along your resume and a cover email to tracey@microplace.com

Tracey Turner is the founder of MicroPlace www.microplace.com

Featuring: Whole Foods Market Microcredit Campaign

This week we want to cast the spotlight on Whole Foods Market’s Annual Campaign 2009:

“You can empower the poor through microcredit by donating $1 at any Whole Foods Market register in the U.S. Give with confidence that your donation will go directly to microlending projects as Whole Foods Market covers 100% of overhead costs of Whole Planet Foundation. Help raise $1 million to enable nearly 25,000* people with the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty.

*as of December 31, 2008, the current average loan size is $205, with each microcredit client supporting on average 5 family members, in the developing world.”

The foundation indicates that they’re closing in on the $500,000 mark of their $1 million goal. For more information on donating please visit http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/get-involved/whole-foods-market-annual-campaign-2009/

See below for a video on the foundation

About the Foundation

The Whole Planet Foundation was established in October of 2005 issuing its first grant in April 2006, to Grameen Trust for the operation of a microfinance program in Costa Rica. Its mission is to create economic partnerships with the poor in those developing-world communities which supply Whole Foods stores with products. Today, the foundation provides grants to microfinance institutions in Latin America, Africa and Asia, who in turn develop and offer microenterprise loan programs, training and other financial services to the self-employed poor.

Featuring: Pro Mujer

 

 

 

Pro Mujer’s average loan is approximately US$236. In addition to small business loans, Pro Mujer offers savings and loans to pay for education and healthcare. Pro Mujer is also developing special loans for youths, rural populations, successful entrepreneurs in need of larger loans, and clients seeking credit to make improvements to their homes.

Pro Mujer equips women with more than just credit. Before extending a loan, Pro Mujer shows women how to develop a simple business plan, a tool to help them make the best use of credit. After getting a loan, clients meet periodically with members of their solidarity group to make loan payments and learn more business skills. Women learn, among other things, about setting the price of goods to be sold, how to monitor income and expenses, and how to assess and navigate the competition.

 

Finally, Pro Mujer believes that health is women’s most precious asset. Health care is particularly crucial for micro entrepreneurs because an illness can deplete savings and other assets, keep them away from their business, and cause other disruptions that can threaten a business.  Pro Mujer offers medical services ranging from PAP smears to breast exams, STD screenings, vaccinations and pre- and post- natal care for pregnant women.

 

Visit the Pro Mujer website for more information.  Get to know Pro Mujer clients and watch videos of clients telling their own stories.

 

Pro Mujer's Client

Pro Mujer is an international microfinance and women’s development network whose mission is to provide Latin America’s poorest women with the means to build livelihoods for themselves and futures for their families through microfinance, business training, and healthcare support.

Pro Mujer fights poverty by establishing sustainable microfinance organizations that provide an integrated package of financial and human development services that clients require to build and improve their small businesses.