Stories
The Heart of the Solution: Microfinance, Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
Microfinance is not the only solution to the primary school enrollment crisis in the developing world. It is, however, a pivotal tool for helping families educate their children, a tool that can lead to breaking the bonds of intergenerational illiteracy and poverty.
Ten years ago, a visitor from North America sat with a microfinance client in South Asia talking with her through a translator. The translator said, “She wants me to tell you that her son is starting college next year.”
“My son is starting college next year, too,” the visitor replied.
The conversation continued and a few minutes later the translator interrupted again and said, “She wants me to tell you her son is starting college next year.”
“I know,” the visitor replied. “My son is starting college next year too.”
They talked a little bit more and then the translator interrupted a third time, “She wants me to tell you her son is starting college next year.”
The visitor, finally getting the picture, asked, “Can you or your husband read or write?”
“No, we can’t read or write,” the client replied.
“Could your mother or father read or write?” the visitor asked.
“No, my mother and father couldn’t read or write,” the client replied.
“Could your husband’s mother or father read or write,” the visitor continued.
“No, his mother and father could not read or write,” the client replied.
“Oh!” the visitor said, finally getting the profundity of the information. “Your son is starting college next year. I finally understand. You must be very, very proud.”
We cannot even imagine the type of pride and sense of accomplishing the impossible this mother must feel. We call America the land of possibilities, but we are clear that anyone anywhere can achieve the impossible if they are given the chance and the tools they need to reach their potential. Microfinance is one of those proven, effective tools, and we ask your support for microfinance for the very poor.
The Heart of the Solution: Microfinance, Changing Lives in the Slums of Nairobi
Jamii Bora is a microfinance institution in the slums of Nairobi. It focuses on the very poor, people that everyone else writes off as unreachable. The loans are very small (less than $90). But these small loans — and the support and hope provided by Jamii Bora — have an amazing impact on the lives of the poorest. I would like to share with you a story of a (man/woman) whose life was changed by Jamii Bora (Note: choose the story that you think speaks to you and your audience):
Wilson Maina is a handsome young man with an infectious smile, admired by many in his home Mathare Valley, one of the largest slums in the world. Only a few years ago Wilson was a thug, a violent criminal feared by all. He chose that destructive type of life because he thought it would be better to shot dead by a policeman than to slowly starve to death from poverty. But in 2000 things changed when he heard about Jamii Bora and realized, to his astonishment, that he was welcome to be a member. For the first time in his life he found that people did not look down on him, but instead welcomed him to join the membership. Jamii Bora encouraged him to believe in himself and showed him that he can get out of poverty if he wants to if he is determined enough.
Wilson was moved and stunned that good people could trust him and believe in him — a thug and a criminal. He joined Jamii Bora in early 2000 and today he is a truly changed person. He is a good husband and father and he is running four small businesses. He is now even managed to become a landlord with two rental properties. He started with a loan of 2,000 Kenyan Shillings (US$29) and by the end of 2006 he had borrowed 18 times. He has taken out a housing loan, but now dreams of moving to the new town in Kaputei. Having managed to change his own life, Wilson is now active in counseling other young men to get out of crime. Today Wilson is a model for many and he demonstrates that in Jamii Bora it does not matter where you come from, what matters is where you are going.
Clarice Adhiambo was a beggar in the streets for 15 years before joining Jamiii Bora. She was one of the original 50 members. She started her first steps out of the streets with a loan of only 1500 Kenyan Shillings (US$22) With this she started a business in the Koma Rock neighborhood frying fish and chips to sell to workers who needed an inexpensive lunch. She would fry two or three fish and sell them in small pieces to her hungry customers. Her daily income was no more than what she could get as a beggar, but she was working for herself and proud of it. By using her loan she had gained her dignity and self-confidence. Clarice’s business grew step by step and she was soon able to take bigger and bigger loans.
Today Clarice has a wholesale business selling fish in Gikomba market to many shops, hotels and restaurants and to the small vendors in town. Clarice also has a restaurant serving fish dishes. She has also become a landlord, renting out market stalls to small shops in the Soweto slum. She has brought herself from being a beggar on the streets to being what she considers a rich woman. What’s more, she has inspired hundreds of desperate people to join Jamii Bora and get out of poverty.
Beatrice Ngendo is a single grandmother. She lives with her 12 grandchildren in Mathare Valley. Her children and their spouses have all died of AIDS. Now the grandchildren only have their grandmother to take care of them. Beatrice did not sit down feeling sorry for her self. She said to herself: “I now have to work twice as hard as other mothers in Mathare Valley to feed and educate 12 children.”
Beatrice heard about Jamii Bora and joined as a member in 2000. She now has three successful businesses in Mathare Valley: a grocery store, butchery, a restaurant and a stone house, which allows her to rent out rooms. Her grandchildren are in school and the oldest has just graduated as a qualified nurse and has joined the staff in Jamii Bora’s out patient clinic in Mathare. Beatrice has been a model for many. Anyone that has met her will never talk about problems again but what they can do to follow Beatrice’s example.
Kitana Gona Kizuka lives in the tranquil village of Utange in Kisauni near Mombasa. Like many of the Giriama tribe that live, he is a farmer and keeps cows. He joined Jamii Bora in 2002 at a time when he desperately needed to increase his income. Since his brother had died, his family responsibilities had doubled and his income was not enough to feed his large family.
His first loan was 10,000 Shillings and the last loan was 50,000 Shillings. He has now borrowed five times. He has been able to acquire 4 high-grade cows that give him a lot of milk and good income. Before he joined Jamii Bora he had only had traditional cows that give very little milk. By crossing the new cows with the traditional breed he has now raised 25 high production dairy cows. With his second loan he purchased a water spout from which he now sells water to his neighbors.
Now, all his children, nieces and nephews are in school or vocational training. Katana was the first member to get a Daraja loan from the Mombasa branch. In the future he would like to take a loan out to buy a cow shed for his herd. He is so excited over his new fortune that he has introduced more than 50 new members to Jamii Bora Trust. He says that Jamii Bora has allowed him to “see the light” at the end of the tunnel.
Do you see how powerful microfinance for the poor is? It restores their dignity and their sense of self-worth. It improves their lives and the lives of their communities. We have decided to use our power as citizens to make a difference, and so we are here to ask you to support microfinance programs that help the very poor.
The Microcredit Summit Campaign, 2007 State of the Campaign Report.
“Members’ Voices,” Jamii Bora, http://www.jamiibora.org/membersvoices.htm
