Business Loans P ROJ EC T P RO F I L E
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any people living in extreme poverty dream of starting a business that could provide for
their family. But dreams alone are not enough to make this happen. They need resources to
start a business and training to make it prosper. World Concern offers small business loans
in incredibly poor places, to people who would otherwise not have a chance to succeed. In many places
loans are not regulated by the government or other authorities and money lenders may charge 50% to
100% interest. Women are often excluded from receiving loans because of discrimination.
How We Help
World Concern helps people overcome these obstacles with fair lending practices, rea-
sonable interest rates and training to help business owners succeed. We teach Biblical
values in the marketplace to help ensure loan recipients run their businesses ethically.
Some wonder why we don’t just give money away, instead of loaning it. In some cases,
we do. After the earthquake in Haiti brought that country’s economy to a halt, World
Concern gave out more than 1,000 business grants so people could purchase equip-
ment that was damaged or lost in the disaster and restart their businesses. In other
circumstances, loaning the money helps ensure people use it for the specified purpose
and teaches a basic business practice by paying the loan back.
Loans range from less than $100 to more than $2,000. Repayment rates are between
95% and 98%. Small businesses help the economy by offering employment opportuni-
ties to others as well. Some of the women we’ve helped now employ up to 14 people.
Village Banks
In several countries, we’ve helped communities start village banks, or financial This woman in Bangladesh receives training and
service associations (FSAs). Without a bank nearby, people hide their money in their support for her silkscreening business.
house, putting them at risk for being robbed.
We’re also teaching people to save, and FSAs are a great tool. Traditional banks often
charge fees, instead of allowing people to earn interest on their money. Like credit
unions, members of FSAs can borrow money to improve their businesses—and earn
interest. Members have voting rights and decision making authority, helping them
feel invested in the success of their village bank.
Small savings groups in villages serve the same purpose. We have helped numerous
groups learn to save, borrow and repay money.
Members of this village bank in Kenya are able to
borrow. save money, and earn interest.
Where We Work
World Concern provides business loans or banking services in Bangladesh, Chad,
Haiti, Sudan and Kenya. With these services, we help people in isolated, poor vil-
lages, refugee camps, and urban slums.
Who We Help
We offer financial services to both men and women, but find the most underprivi-
leged members of an impoverished community are often women. Some have lost
their husbands to war, while other men simply abandoned their families. Women
become the sole financial providers as well as caretakers of the children. We seek
out heads of households—male or female—who would otherwise be unable to start
their own business.
Masuda’s Story:
$100 Changes a Life Forever Women in Sudan participate in savings groups,
which allow them to borrow and save money.
Masuda Bibi lives in Bangladesh, where 45% of the population
lives below the poverty line. Her husband abandoned her and
her two young children, leaving her with nowhere to go and
no source of income. A friend told Masuda about World Concern
and we gave her a $100 loan to start a small shop where she sold
rice, spices and onions. A year later, she repaid the loan, so we
gave her two more consecutive loans, building her business
and expanding her inventory each time.
Not only has Masuda earned enough to send her children to
school, but she was also able to buy a bamboo and tin shelter
for them to live in. But the biggest change for Masuda was in
her heart. In a male dominated society where women are not
respected, we empowered her to succeed. Masuda’s success
brought the respect of men, but more importantly self-re- Women in Bangladesh prosper in business, through training and small loans.
spect, self-reliance, and dignity. That $100 loan changed her
life forever.
About World Concern
World Concern, part of CRISTA Ministries, is a Christian humanitarian organization that helps lift people out of poverty. World Concern works with the poor
in 22 countries, with the goal of transforming the lives of those we touch, leading them on a path to self-sustainability. Worldwide, World Concern offers life,
opportunity and hope to nearly six million people. For more information on our work around the world, please visit www.worldconcern.org.
19303 Fremont Avenue North • Seattle, Washington 98133 • 1.800.755.5022 • worldconcern.org