by Isabelle A. Harman
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45515.asp
Excerpt:
The disproportionately high levels of poverty found in many developing countries became the catalyst needed to create a formal process to help citizens of these states develop a means to earn an income. Traditional lending institutions have not been readily accessible to many of these people (particularly women). This fact brought forth microlending endeavors through non-profit and non-governmental organizations. Guy Vincent notes in his article Sustainable Microentrepreneurship that “during the 1980’s and 1990’s, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, thousands of microfinance NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) were established to provide microloans, using individual and group lending methodologies”. Individuals who have taken advantage of these lending practices have successfully developed small businesses. They are now able to do something as seemingly simple as sending their children to school and being able to eat more than one meal a day.Of particular interest, women comprise a significant percentage of these entrepreneurs. In 2002, as reported by USAID, of 3.7 million microentrepreneurs who benefited from USAID’s annual funding, two-thirds were women.
Each government has its own criteria to qualify for microenterprise loans. Statistics have shown that when these loans are granted, the proportion of individuals who repay in full, with interest, is significantly higher than that of repaid conventional business loans. The practice of microlending has greatly benefited women throughout the world.
In many cases, repaying a loan of a hundred dollars is nothing to dismiss. Citizens of some countries find that kind of money while cleaning their cars. The reality is that in less developed countries a hundred dollars is considered a small fortune to their poor populace.
From: BellaOnline