Women's Empowerment International

Business Loans and Services for Women in Poverty

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Adelante Foundation

With only a 6th grade education – but a series of small loans – Ana Yadira Euceda has become a successful entrepreneur operating a school cafeteria in the rural area of Intibucá, Honduras.

Grameen de la Frontera

In rural Sonora, Mexico, Carmen Valenzuela Baldenegro started her new life with an $89 loan. Now the recipient of multiple loans, she is able to use profits from her well-stocked grocery store to provide an education for her two young daughters.

WE Center for STAR Women

Luchia Lokonyen farmed in her homeland of Uganda, and in Kenya, where she lived in a refugee camp for 15 years. Resettled in San Diego, Luchia used a small business loan from the WE STAR Center to pay for driving lessons. Now this mother of five has a driver's license and can sell her fresh produce at local farmers markets.

WomensTrust

In Pokuase, Ghana, Vida Zah, 56, used microfinance loans to create such a successful business providing refreshing drinks that she has been able to hire two female employees to serve her growing clientele.

Microfinance: An Effective Poverty
Reduction Strategy

Women’s Empowerment provides microfinance loans and business training to women in Mexico, Honduras, Ghana and San Diego - so they can start businesses and work their way out of poverty.

Microfinance is one of the most effective and flexible strategies in the fight against global poverty. It is sustainable and can be implemented on the massive scale necessary to respond to the urgent needs of those living on less than $2 a day.

Why microfinance?

•    Very high repayment rate
•   Funds are recycled. As loans are repaid, they are re-loaned. Reinvestment multiplies the impact of each dollar loaned.
•   Small loans help very poor households meet basic needs and protect against emergencies.
•   By lending to women, microfinance promotes gender-equity and education for children.
•   Helps families move from “everyday survival” to “planning for the future.”

Microfinance has a positive impact far beyond the individual client.

Studies show that women are much more likely than men to reinvest their earnings in their businesses and their families. As micro-businesses expand, entire communities benefit.

Jobs are created. Knowledge is shared. Civic participation increases. Children – especially girls - are educated.

And, women are recognized as valuable members of their families and communities.

Learn more ...

WE Videos

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WE International Day of Women Presentation - 2013

Video from the 102nd anniversary of the International Day of Women.Celebration March 10 at Jacobs center. Speakers included City Council member Todd Gloria and Mayor Filner.

See Video

In Honor of Mother's Day

Many of us support worthy causes because our role models, often our mothers, taught us that everyone can make a difference in this world.

Women's Empowerment International is committed to reducing world poverty, head-on and in a big way! That is, by helping women who are among nearly half the world's population who live on less than $2.00 a day.

MEET AN ENTREPRENEUR

A Natural Remedy Pharmacy Provides a Healthier Life

At 52, Yolanda Hernandez Vasquez is considered an important asset in her village. She lives in San Jose de Tutulé, a small village in Intibucá, Honduras, and operates a pharmacy in her house where she sells natural medicines. There are no pharmacies or clinics in her area, so people come from surrounding villages to buy her roots, herbs, spices and seeds.

Yolanda has received four loans from Adelante, WE’s partner bank for the poor in Honduras. She has used these to restock and expand her pharmacy. With the profits earned from her business, Yolanda has paid for school expenses for her children and bought food for the family.

Five of Yolanda’s nine children are grown and married; they only finished school through sixth grade. But Yolanda has different plans for her younger children. She wants them to finish high school and even attend college – a dream she can pursue because of her profitable business.

Take Action

With your help, we can assist women living in poverty with small business loans and help with starting and growing their businesses. Gifts of every size make a difference.