In 2020, the Raising Haiti Foundation began funding the provision of small loans ($25-$50) to 50 women clients per community. By July 2024, the program had grown to a total of 426 beneficiaries who received loans in the $76 to $1,132 range. By the end of 2024, the program will expand to enroll 500 clients, with an increasing loan range.
Most of the women use their loans to become entrepreneurs, or to expand their current businesses, selling goods in local markets. Some use them to purchase livestock or crop seeds, improving their farming outputs. Besides loans, the women receive training on topics such as business management, customer satisfaction, how to avoid supply shortages, and the role of local leaders in community development.
We used to have to shill a micro loan “charity” back when I worked for the ole organic Walmart now owned by Bezos. My boss always gave me crap about not getting enough donations. I told them I was morally opposed to profiteering off the world’s poorest people. No, raiderkev, this is different. No the fuck it’s not. It’s not a charity, it’s a business, and we’re asking people to fund banks that will charge these people interest and get them started on a debt spiral. Hard pass.