Small Loans for the Poorest of the Poor

On Wednesday, the Team broke into two groups of about 6 persons each and went to see a new aspect of a very successful and long-running micro-lending program. To get there, we had the privilege of walking a section of the road that was impassable for our van.

WR has for many years made small loans to Cambodians who could develop a business plan, put up collateral, etc. These loans have always in the past been about an average of $500.00 USD. That is about equal to maybe 6 months wages. but the new "Vulnerable Services Unit" is for the poorest of the poor, making loans of an average of just $50.00 to people who have nothing, no collateral. Most of the recipients of these loans are rural subsistence farmers.

Once we got to the village we came to the Village Leader's home, as thatch-roof, bamboo home on stilts. There, under the home, were two CREDIT Officers (staff with WR's micro-lending program) who were handing out a few new loans. One of the recipients (seen here, smiling, as I snapped his photo) was very happy to talk to us after he got his loan. John Schmidler (below) and he bonded a bit. He told us he would use the money to buy seed--more seed than he could harvest from this year's crop) so that his next planting will be much larger. He was so happy.

Let me ask you, the reader, a question: if I told you that you could make an investment (not a contribution, not charity, but an investment) into a Certificate of Deposit into the CREDIT Bank... and that that CD would mature in one (1) year at a guaranteed interest rate of 8% or more... and that during the year you principle amount would be loaned out to people like this who repay the loans a a 98% re-fulfillment rate, would you be interested to know more and maybe choose this as an investment option? If so, let me know by emailing me or better yet, download the CREDIT CD application here.