Comments on: Be The Change: Empowering Women Through Microfinance

By: We Volunteer the Most In a Recession | Small Hands, Big Ideas

We Volunteer the Most In a Recession | Small Hands, Big Ideas — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:03:17 +0000

[...] write about giving, a lot. I always say, “Giving is living,” and I still like to believe [...]

By: Kiva Update | The Cost of Living

Kiva Update | The Cost of Living — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:01:50 +0000

[...] through Grace Boyle’s recent article on microfinance over at Small Hands, Big Ideas reminded me that I should post a quick update on my experiences with kiva.org. I’m happy to [...]

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:21:08 +0000

@Jim Thanks for the reference to read “The Blue Sweater,” I will definitely check it out. I'm happy to hear you're in favor of microfinance, as well. Thanks for stopping by, Jim.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:21:08 +0000

@Jim Thanks for the reference to read “The Blue Sweater,” I will definitely check it out. I'm happy to hear you're in favor of microfinance, as well. Thanks for stopping by, Jim.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:43:35 +0000

Thanks for writing about this important issue. Organizations such as Kiva make it so easy to make a difference for as little as $25, there's really no reason not to. I would also recommend reading “The Blue Sweater” by Jacqueline Novogratz, if you haven't already. Really inspirational stories about her early involvement in microfinance in Africa, and her motivations for starting the Acumen Fund, a global non-profit that promotes social entrepreneurship throughout the world.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:07:58 +0000

@Cassie I hadn't heard of matchsavings.org before, I will definitely check them out. I love it and thanks for sending it along.

When this post was featured on Brazen I tried to reiterate that microfinance is important not only for women, but also men. Women have a stipulation worldwide with poverty (Re: the stats I included) but it can enable and empower both sexes, both of which are important Thanks for bringing that point up. Enjoy your weekend, Cassie!

By: Cassie

Cassie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:44:37 +0000

Powerful post. You reiterated a central problem to the cycle: many people fail to get out of poverty not because of lack of motivation, but because of the barrier to basic financial services.

This reminded me of a site: http://www.matchsavings.org/. This is a credit union driven program where people in poverty set monthly savings goals to put towards housing, small business, health or education. Someone then signs on to "match" this person's monthly savings goal if they meet it. Not just for women, but they sure are among the recipients of this program.