Introduction to Cristina's Financial Diaries
January 26, 2012
I have been an intern at MicroLoan Foundation for about 3 months now and in this time I have come to learn so much about the charity and thoroughly enjoy the work that MicroLoan does. Furthermore after reading The Financial Diaries by Christina Nelson, I have developed a greater understanding of what really goes into making these loans beneficial for these African women.
After graduating from SOAS with a Master’s degree in African Studies, Christina Nelson went onto spending her time volunteering for MicroLoan Foundation. She spent 6 months with our clients in Malawi to understand their day to day financial lives, gathering information on their financial outgoings and income. These insights are now driving our work to ensure we continue to build upon operational efficiency, service delivery and responsiveness to client needs. This project is part of our work and commitment to social performance management, ensuring we are reaching and really helping the remotest women in sub-Saharan Africa
Here are some initial comments from our clients with regards to the work and support Christina has done:
"I've learnt that I have this money coming in and this money going out, so I don't waste it any more. I can see that I don't have enough money to waste."
"I can now differenitate which products are the most profitable."
"I used to sell maandasi and spend everything that I earned. Now I know not to spend it all straight away."
About the MicroLoan Foundation
The MicroLoan Foundation is a responsible and non-profit UK microfinance charity that provides microfinance (small loans of on average £70), business education and ongoing mentoring support to impoverished women in sub-Saharan Africa. This provides them with a “hand-up not a hand-out” so they can develop self-sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families, and work their own way out of poverty. 99% of the loans are repaid and then recycled in full to help more women year after year.
In addition to visiting the MicroLoan website, more information is available on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.
MicroLoan Foundation Contact
Rupy Kaur
Digital Marketing and Communications Manager
rupy.kaur@microloanfoundation.org.uk
020 8827 1691
Media Contact for the MicroLoan Foundation
Helena Reid
AxiCom PR
Helena.Reid@Axicom.com
020 8392 4077
About the MicroLoan Foundation
The MicroLoan Foundation is a responsible and non-profit UK microfinance charity that provides microfinance (small loans of on average £70), business education and ongoing mentoring support to impoverished women in sub-Saharan Africa. This provides them with a “hand-up not a hand-out” so they can develop self-sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families, and work their own way out of poverty. 99% of the loans are repaid and then recycled in full to help more women year after year.
In addition to visiting the MicroLoan website, more information is available on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.
MicroLoan Foundation Contact
Rupy Kaur
Digital Marketing and Communications Manager
rupy.kaur@microloanfoundation.org.uk
020 8827 1691
Media Contact for the MicroLoan Foundation
Helena Reid
AxiCom PR
Helena.Reid@Axicom.com
020 8392 4077
About the MicroLoan Foundation
The MicroLoan Foundation is a responsible and non-profit UK microfinance charity that provides microfinance (small loans of on average £70), business education and ongoing mentoring support to impoverished women in sub-Saharan Africa. This provides them with a "hand-up not a hand out" so they can develop self-sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families, and work their own way out of poverty. 99% of the loans are repaid and then recycled in full to help more women year after year.
In addition to visiting the MicroLoan website, more information is available on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.
MicroLoan Foundation Contact
Rita Dharar
Marketing and Adminstration Intern
rita.dharar@microloanfoundation.org.uk
020 8827 1691
AxiCom Contact
Helena Parule
AxiCom PR
helena.reid@axicom.com
020 8392 4077
social performance management
women
microfinance
charity
africa