$26,000 grant will provide loans to women in Dschang!

On April 7th, we will begin teaching our first Women's Entrepreneurial Program (WEP) in Dschang. Twenty-seven women are signed up for the course, which will cover basic business skills such as bookkeeping, marketing and feasability studies.

This class also marks the beginning of our microfinance program.  Since the launch of the WEP in 2007, we have offered grants to a number of women in each class.  These grants have helped launch and expand successful businesses, ranging from hairstyling boutiques to pig farming.

However, since the beginning of 2010 we have been planning ways to make this program sustainable.  For the program in Dschang, we have partnered with the Groupement d'Appui de Developpement Durable (GADD) and three different microfinance institutions.  The curriculum has been expanded to include visits to our partner banks and guidance through the process of applying for, and repaying, a loan. 

Thanks to a generous grant of $26,000 from The Flanigan Family Foundation, Breaking Ground will provide the capital for loans to 20 women in 2011. We have negotiated an extremely low interest rate and will work closely with each woman to support her as she repays. As the women repay their loans, this will go towards capital that can then be leant out to other WEP graduates. In 4 years time, this program will be truly sustainable.

This new program has been in the works for almost a year and we are thrilled to see it finally launching.  Thank you Flanigan Family Foundation!