Self-help shop
The sisters and the local Catholic diocese have recently underwritten a small variety store a couple of blocks from the orphanage. It was built earlier this year and is operated by 8 women from the neighborhood. The money came from an Italian non-governmental organization, perhaps following up on the successes of the Grameen Bank. Sister Anna said it took 40,000 rupees to build and another 40,000 to stock (40 rupees to the dollar, so about $2,000 total). The women are paying back the loan at at a rate of $500 per month, they get paid for their work, and profits are rolled back into the program to help start up other business ventures in the neighborhood. Sarah bought some fruit, a package of cotton swabs, and a packet of soup mix, if I remember correctly. On a previous visit I bought a pack of "Scissors" cigarettes to send to give to a friend back home. (Funny name for cigarettes ... "Scissors cuts your health", etc.)
Here's an item describing the program, from the Home of Hope 2008 List of Needs ... "Micro-loan fund for neighborhood outreach groups. The sisters have 15 “empowerment” groups in the neighborhood and many more applications than they can fund. Repayable loans from $100-$2,000 can launch a business. Stalls that sell food, and sewing machines so that piece work can be done at home, are just two of many options."
The sisters and the local Catholic diocese have recently underwritten a small variety store a couple of blocks from the orphanage. It was built earlier this year and is operated by 8 women from the neighborhood. The money came from an Italian non-governmental organization, perhaps following up on the successes of the Grameen Bank. Sister Anna said it took 40,000 rupees to build and another 40,000 to stock (40 rupees to the dollar, so about $2,000 total). The women are paying back the loan at at a rate of $500 per month, they get paid for their work, and profits are rolled back into the program to help start up other business ventures in the neighborhood. Sarah bought some fruit, a package of cotton swabs, and a packet of soup mix, if I remember correctly. On a previous visit I bought a pack of "Scissors" cigarettes to send to give to a friend back home. (Funny name for cigarettes ... "Scissors cuts your health", etc.)
Here's an item describing the program, from the Home of Hope 2008 List of Needs ... "Micro-loan fund for neighborhood outreach groups. The sisters have 15 “empowerment” groups in the neighborhood and many more applications than they can fund. Repayable loans from $100-$2,000 can launch a business. Stalls that sell food, and sewing machines so that piece work can be done at home, are just two of many options."
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