Breaking Through Poverty with Microfinance

This video is from the Grameen Foundation, one of the leading micro financing institutions.  It’s a long video, but gives a good overview of microfinance.

why I like microfinance

I am most interested in ideas, activities and approaches which result in permanently getting people out of poverty. I’m interested in practical solutions which are highly scalable.

I continue to be frustrated by the lack of transparency and accountability in the so-called “international development” government and NGO sector. So much energy is focused on inputs (e.g. we fed 100 people) and very little on results (e.g. 50 people cross the poverty line and are still there after 5 years.) I’m finding that so much of the interesting high-potential break-throughs are coming from smaller socially-driven organizations which are cash-strapped, but entrepreneurial-minded.

Microfinance is a newer approach to solving the global problem of poverty. Small loans are given to poor people to help them engage in growing a small business.

my first post!

Hi everyone, this is Sophie.  I’m looking forward to reading Moon’s posts and adding some thoughts of my own!