The clients we visited had compelling stories: a local woman who made fried dumplings (mandazi) in her home and brought them to market to sell. The money she made from selling these delicious morsels helped her feed her children and pay for their school fees and uniforms. Another sold traditional medicines, hundreds of herbs and other medicines that earned him $100 per month after accounting for expenses, which earns him a bit more than $3 per day, putting him just above the poverty line ($2.70 per day).

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In Reyna’s case, a microloan would not just mean a new stove. That loan translates into so much more – a better business; more income; Tattiana’s education; Tattiana’s future; the future of the students Tattiana educates; and so on. This is what motivates Honduras Good Works to start a microfinance mechanism, and it’s what motivates Oikocredit to continue working to change the lives of 28 million people worldwide.

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Oikocredit USA, a member of Netherlands-based cooperative financial institution Oikocredit, is launching its second Summer of Microfinance campaign on June 3, 2011. The national kick-off event will take place on Friday, June 3 at 6pm and feature Terry Provance of Oikocredit USA and Leigh Carter of Fonkoze USA. (You’re invited! RSVP for the event here.) Ms. Carter was in Haiti during the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country.  She will ... Read More »

Oikocredit Executive Director Terry Provance will present Oikocredit’s mission and answer your questions as part of the One Great Hour of Sharing – presented by the United Church of Christ. Terry will speak tonight, April 6th, at 7:15pm EST. You may join the call by dialing 1-877-243-9098 and entering pin# 51145021. To learn more about Oikocredit’s ongoing relationship with the United Church of Christ, read the general UCC Resolution in ... Read More »

In 2001, Flora’s husband was killed and their cattle were stolen. Left alone with four young children to support, she desperately needed assistance in rebuilding her life. She began with a small loan from the Samburu Teachers Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Samburu Teachers SACCO), which eventually allowed her to open a small grocery store.  Over time, Flora’s hard work and commitment – combined with the capital she received from ... Read More »

Some take years before they invest in Oikocredit. Others get started early. But no one has ever acted as quickly as Leah Marie Ellerbee – she was just four days old when she became an Oikocredit member! When she was born, her German grandmother, an Oikocredit member for the past 30 years, wanted to mark the occasion: “In America, it’s common to create some kind of fund for very young ... Read More »

It’s hard to imagine life without credit – we use it every day to buy homes, pay for education, and make ends meet. But in many parts of the world, credit isn’t available at all. In those places, access to a small loan is often all that stands between a poor person and starting the small business that would provide them the income to break the cycle of poverty. Oikocredit ... Read More »

Just a few years ago, Agusta had lost everything she owned due to the disastrous effects of El Niño and the bankruptcy of her local bank. Fortunately she ran into a former neighbor who had become a credit officer for one of our partner MFIs. Augusta asked for $250 to start a food stand on the street. Soon she was soon able to move from the streets to a house. ... Read More »

Most investors learn about Oikocredit by word of mouth, so hosting an event can make a big impact! Gather a group of friends or neighbors for an evening introduction to Oikocredit and the world of microfinance. Bring out the wine and cheese and arrange your living room (or community room) for a group anywhere from six to sixty. You’ll decide ahead of time whether you want to share a video, ... Read More »

This fall, Oikocredit USA will be hosting a series of microfinance workshops in major cities across the country. This is a great opportunity to learn about how Oikocredit and its volunteers, through the use of microfinance, are helping communities throughout the world lift themselves out of poverty. The events will feature presentations by Oikocredit USA Executive Director Terry Provance and other members of the microfinance industry. Reserve Your Space for ... Read More »