ViewCart/Checkout

Search Site:

Net proceeds from the Women With Wings event support micro-lending to economically empower women the women of Ethiopia.

A loan of $141, that's all it takes in Ethiopia to go from being the poorest of the poor, living on less than $1 a day, to living poor by our standards but reasonably by theirs.

For the women of Ethiopia a reasonable loan of $141 is not obtainable.

First because women cannot borrow money without a male to sign for them, except possibly from loan sharks who expect to be paid back so much that there is no chance to get ahead.

Second, because the women of Ethiopia are busy. They do all the domestic tasks, from gathering water to preparing meals. Gathering water often requires at least six hours as sources are distant and containers must be of a size a woman weighing 100-120 pounds can manage. She is not alone in this task as her children (starting as young as three years of age) help. These are children who should be in school but there is no free schooling in Ethiopia. It takes money for tuition and supplies. Money is something she does not have.

There is hope.

Rotary International is working to put clean water into the villages of Ethiopia. They follow this with schools. This creates a sustainable structure that gives mothers and children of Ethiopia an opportunity to do something productive with their days other than hauling water. With this new time mothers can work and pay for the tuition to send their children to school.

Now Rotary would like to provide micro lending in the areas that have received clean water. Rotary does not limit the loans to women alone, but women are the most in need and the most promising clientele - they make up 80% of the loan recipients.

The average loan given in Ethiopia is $141. This allows a woman to start a business of her own, either in a cooperative or with a support circle of other women. She can buy a treadle sewing machine and begin a business as a seamstress or purchase chickens to raise eggs, stock and meat for sale - simple business ventures that allow her to become self sufficient. Women are dependable recipients. Their track record is over 98% repayment of the money they borrow. They know, only too well, they will not get another chance to borrow on their own.

Micro lending is the donation that keeps on giving. As the money is borrowed it is also repaid, with enough interest to keep the program sustainable and loaned again. The success of this type of credit is explained by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Mohammed Yunas in his book "Banker to the Poor". Further examples can be read about in "Bootstraps for Billions".

Rotary is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-religious organization of men and women who believe in "Service Above Self". Rotarians do not take any portion of the money that is sent to Ethiopia for their own use. The money is administered jointly by Rotarians in North America and in Ethiopia.

For more information contact Rotarian, Maureen Fritz-Roberts or Tanya Harmon.

Net proceeds from the Women With Wings event support micro-lending to economically empower women the women of Ethiopia.