“Sustainable access to microfinance helps alleviate poverty by generating income, creating jobs, allowing children to go to school, enabling families to obtain healthcare and empowering people to make the choices that best serve their needs”
Kofi Annan ( former UN Secretary General)

Microfinance refers to financial services to the poor who have no assets to offer as collateral for loans.

GW has completed two microfinance pilot schemes which have been an outstanding success with a 100% repayment rate.  There are two types of loans – a rural loan which does not require payment for 12 months (to allow crops to be harvested and animals to mature) and commercial loans which produce immediate returns such as a tea shop, teaching classes and motor bike transport.

GW has incorporated other services with the loan to benefit the recipient in skills and management. Training is given in business and financial management as most recipients have had little or no cash to budget and manage prior to receiving a loan. Every family member of the loan recipient receives free medical care.

The average loan is $150.00. When the borrower has repaid the loan they can reapply for another loan for a higher amount. All the borrowers from our pilot program have reapplied for another loan. All loans are funded by donors.

If you would like to know more about our microfinance program please email us at:

info@graceworksmyanmar.com.au

Microfinance at Work:

A village farmer is congratulated on his loan by GW Chairman Peter Simmons.
This man is now able to develop his own plot of land with training from GW rural
development program.

This lady purchased a pig. She later sold her pig for a profit, purchased
another one and with the profit expanded her wood chopping business
by employing someone.

Wood chopping business... (see above)

This man bought a pig sold it and purchased this bike which he uses
to transport people around his village.

These boys deliver water after school to help support their orphanage.
The next loan will assist the orphanage to start a rice distribution service
in the local village

Another example of the diversity of applications of loans - this man
started an icecream distribution to village children.