As billions of viewers worldwide tune in to the World Cup this year, Oikocredit makes an active effort to help the poor in many of the countries participating in this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Since the games are taking place in South Africa, here’s a little background info on our projects in the country. Oikocredit partners with seven South African MFIs. One of which, the INDLU Finance Company Ltd,  provides low-interest loans to families in need of better homes. They use the loan money to buy, repair, or improve a house or property. The MFI currently has 33% women borrowers. We also work with Wizzit Payments (Pty) Ltd., which offers bank accounts to South Africans without access to financial services. Also, the Hands-on Fish Farmer’s Cooperative Limited focuses on trout fishing in the region, which makes up a large part of the economy. Loans dispersed by this MFI go toward aquaculture and fish processing.

Today, Mexico and Uruguay battled in a soccer match leaving Uruguay one point ahead, to a 1:0 victory and at the lead of Group A. Oikocredit works with several MFIs in Uruguay, including Centro Latinoamericano de Estudios Humanos, which provides education and medical education, consulting, and social services to public and private instituions. We also partner with Central Lanera Uruguaya (CLU), which works to create fair prices for wool, and distributes loans for farmers engaged in wool processing and trading. It has benefitted 2,5000 farmer families so far. For more information on our efforts in Uruguay, check out this website: http://www.oikocredit.org/en/who-we-are/impact/project-partners/active-portfolio?q=Uruguay&x=0&y=0

Although Mexico did not win today, its previous matches put the team tied for second in its group (tied with South Africa). Oikocredit works with ten Mexican MFIs, including Opciones Empresariales del Noreste S.A. de C.V. This MFI has new branch offices in 4 regions of the country, offering short-term loans and training for the management of personal finances. The organization currently loans to 8,156 active borrowers, 53% of whom are women. We also support Ambito Productive SC (APROS), a social development bank that works with women through village banking in rural areas. Read more about the other MFIs we partner with at this link: http://www.oikocredit.org/en/who-we-are/impact/project-partners/active-portfolio?q=Mexico&x=0&y=0

Check back as the tournament continues to learn more about our projects in the particpating nations as they compete in the 2010 World Cup!