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Since Germany has the Presidency of the EU for the first half of 1999. I am unfortunately already committed elsewhere for the date of the next Meeting of Councils in June 1999, I will send my representative in the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest to participate actively in your Council of Donor Agencies. I wish your meeting in Abidjan every success.
Heidemarie Wieozorek- Zeul Bundesministerin für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40, 53113 Bonn Telephone: (02 28) 535 – 33 11/33 12 March 29, 1999
Congratulations and best wishes for the good work you are doing. The website is wonderful and the research work listed is inspiring. At present I am a PhD candidate at Penn State University in telecommunications. I am very interested in researching the development of the Grameenphone project and efforts to expand internet access to the working poor. I have had difficulty finding information on it at the website. I am also interested in replication projects in Africa, particularly related to telecommunications and empowerment of the poor. Can you help guide me to where I can find out more.
Thank you so much and bless you in your efforts.
Jo Dumas Pennsylvania State University Jo Dumas (jad21@psu.edu) February, 20, 1999.
Looking for South Asian Partners Ashram International is a three year old UK-based charity formed and financed by a group of "friends of the Indian sub-continent", resident in the UK.
Its three main objectives are: (a) employment
generation,
Should any organisation in the Indian sub-continent be interested in furthering our project work programme and wish to work as our "partner" in the Indian sub-continent/Nepal, we shall be glad to consider project proposals that incorporate all the above three components.
George S. Joseph ASHRAM International 186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BT, Tel: 0171 207 21 00 Fax: 0171 207 21 50 August 3, 1999 Center in South America I am happy to have the opportunity to contact you again. I want to send you a copy of a publication that appeared in Brazil, regarding our work, that was sent to me by a person concerned with the financing system, very interested in having information about our work. I have told him that I am ready to go to Sao Paulo, to speak with him and his people about Grameen’s programs. What is your opinion about this matter? Also, I am holding many contacts with people interested in microcredit from Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. It seems to me that this corner of the world, Argentina – Buenos Aires – can become an important center of work and co-ordination of Grameen’s replication programs in the southern part of America. As you know, our work is increasing with many contacts everywhere in Argentina. The Foundation Grameen Argentina is in the process of getting its governmental approval. Our next commitment is to arrange the program of training in Dhaka for the first trainers, two people of my organization and myself. I will keep you informed of each step and the progress that I achieve. Pablo Broder Olenclas Economicas Tucuman 1455 –11* D Buenos Aires (1050), Argentina Tel – fax 54 11 4374 – 4734 Email : pbsigno@arnet.com.ar July 27, 1999. Only A Change of Name During the 1999 Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’lvoire, the EDCS membership decided to change the name EDCS to Oikocredit. For many years, such a change had been considered, and we are happy that the debate has now reached this conclusion. A change of name was deemed necessary not only because the abbreviation EDCS was a far from easy to remember name, but also because in fact, we were known by three names: SOCED in Spanish-speaking areas and SCOD in French-speaking areas. The new name will put an end to this confusing situation. The name Oikocredit was chosen because it expresses very clearly what Oikocredit is all about: giving credit to the poor. The prefix "Oiko" (Oikos in ancient Greek meant "house", "community" and "world") refers to concepts like ecumenism, economy and ecology, all essential ingredients in the world and life of EDCS. "Credit" not only refers to the fact that the organization gives loans to the poor, but also to the fact that credit derives from Latin word "credere" meaning "to believe". In fact, Oikocredit is all about believing in the capabilities of disadvantaged people: if given the chance, if given credit, they are able to build better lives for themselves and their children. As a consequence of the name change, our e-mail addresses have also changed. You can now reach our office at office@oikocredit.org. More information can be found on our home page www.oikocredit.org. Gert van Maanen General Manager Oikocredit Amersfoort July 5, 1999 Joining the Effort I am half way reading the book, Banker to the Poor. I was deeply moved by Dr.Yunus' intense concerns for the poorest of the poor, his vision, courage, and struggle he went through to develop the most innovative banking system that would change the lives of the millions of poor. Some time next year, in June or July, I will be visiting India. At that time I would very much like to visit Bangladesh and see the working of the Grameen Bank first hand. I shall be retiring soon from my present job as a Professor of Accounting in a college here. I am considering returning to India then and involving myself in public service. Implementing Grameen Bank model in the villages in India is a worthwhile cause. Perhaps this is already being done in India. In that case, I may join in that effort. You may be able to direct me to the right channel so that I can explore the possibilities. Surendra J. Matani Toledo, Ohio, USA E-mail: matanisurendraj@yahoo.com August 2, 1999
The Norwegian Womens Network Bank is a grassroots institution. We were established in Norway in 1992 with 15 members. Now we have about 450. The model is the Grameen approach, adapted for the Norwegian people. Just now we have 39 Women's Banks and about 500 members. We need money for training of our project leaders and for the information office. We wish to be represented at the Microcredit Summit this year too. I don't know if we can get money for a trip to Africa. Ellen, Jorun and Solvi have been committed to this work and have had many difficulties with the bureaucrats. They do not understand our decision that the group members shall have the whole responsibility. The meetings will start up again after Easter. Sometimes, I think other countries understand better what we are doing than our own government. Nancy Barry and Inger Prebensen of Women's World Bank have visited Oslo and Ellen met them there. Inger Prebensen is well known here as a very good leader and will work for microcredit when she comes back to Norway. We bring out an information paper Staa I Kvinnebanken in Norwegian language . We will be glad to send further copies of this paper. Unfortunately we are not rich, therefore will request money for postage. We wish good luck for your work. Inger Thomassen Kvinnebanken Norgesnett, Postboks 39, 8309 Kabelvag Norway April 5, 1999
Congratulations on your excellent book Banker to the Poor. My mother and I have read it and found it inspiring and useful. I am an anthropologist working among the urban and rural poor of Indonesia. I've worked in Indonesia for the past 30 years and written a book called the Wheel of Fortune about the evolution and change in a poor urban community as seen through the eyes of its people. Together with my friend Bambang Rustanto - a social worker working in the slums of Jakarta and in Bandung, we have set up a micro-credit program among groups of poor women. In two months we have reached over sixty women. The funding largely comes from my salary. I work as a freelance consultant for a number of international agencies. Together, Bambang and I, would like to see your work at first hand and see what aspects of your work can be applied to our own. We are working with women (and their husbands) in one pocket of poverty in Jakarta - there are estimated to be about 400-500 pockets of poverty in Jakarta and we plan to spread our program to other areas after our first pilot program has been tested. We live austerely with low overheads. Poor women get loans of Aus$20 for five months which they repay over that period with nominal extras for care and savings funds. Before we spread too far we would like to link with you and learn from you. Lea Jellinek Lot 61 Blackwood Lane, Taggerty, Victoria 3714, phone 61.357.747230 fax 61.357.747582 email: leajell@ozemail.com.au
Address in Jakarta is Bambang Rustanto and Lea Jellinek Jl. Kemanggisan Satu Nomor 4 Kemanggisan Ilir, Slipi, West Jakarta Indonesia Phone 62.21.5480932 email:leajell@rad.net.id July 12, 1999 |
