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On
my return from Bangladesh, a daylong staff review meeting
was held on 8th July, at the project office in Peje. Grameen
Kosovo, which since 2000 was following the Grameen Classical
System, will now begin introducing some of the new features
of Grameen Bank II Model. Borrowers will be allowed to pay
back the loan, according to a repayment schedule, which will
suit their convenience and the Group Fund will now be divided
up to create individual savings accounts. New products, such
as 3 and 6-month loans, will also be introduced.
The recent robbery attempt at the Prishtina
branch caused much concern amongst the staff and we are trying
to enforce a more reliable security system to prevent another
such mishap.
On 9th of July, a two-member team of the
Banking and Payment Authority of Kosovo, performed a routine
inspection of Grameen Kosovo. Supervision. The team were satisfied
with the overall operation of the project.
The Project staff is currently striving to
attain sustainability which in June, was measured at 65%.
Various cost-cutting measures were taken, which have significantly
reduced the project’s overall expenses. For future expansion
projects, we are trying to access commercial funding and currently
we are discussing our business plan with various commercial
banks that lend to MFIs.
| Particulars |
Peje Branch |
Prishtina Branch |
Prizren Branch |
Gjilan Branch |
| No. of Branches |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| No. of Groups |
279 |
337 |
214 |
208 |
| Total Outreach |
1,718 |
2,074 |
1,487 |
1,375 |
| Total Loan Disbursements (Euros) |
3,149,950 |
4,772,140 |
1,751,492 |
1,770,042 |
| Loan Outstanding (Euros) |
749,301 |
900,590 |
420,416 |
393,660 |
| Repayment Rate |
88% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
| Total Savings (Euros) |
67,731 |
99,162 |
44,664 |
49,324 |
| Operational Sustainability |
167.40% |
330.16% |
191% |
206% |
To further increase the management skills,
efficiency and productivity, staff development programs have
been arranged for field workers, accountants and managers
of all the branches in August and September. Our goal is to
turn Grameen Kosovo into a self-sustaining organization that
caters to the needs of the poor people in Kosovo and help
alleviate poverty. Gradually, we hope to succeed in reaching
our goal.
Abdul Hai Khan
Project Director
Grameen Kosovo
Email : kgmpeje@yahoo.com
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Initiatives
in Costa Rica |
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My
wife and I have been making small loans and grants here on
the east coast of Costa Rica. The need for a Grameen type
microcredit program here is strong. We intend to start a fund,
seeded with $1,000 for 5-10 loans. So far men are the initial
candidates, as women tend to stay in the background and therefore
they need to be reached out.
There
are also trust barriers to overcome, as we are white or “gringo”
in an area where it is not very popular, though we seem to
be getting through with that one. Also there is mistrust about
anything institutional. The indigenous people have seen many
examples of programs, which are intended to benefit them,
but the money stays “somewhere else”.
I
have already produced two “graduates” of an informal
training program for entrepreneurs’ here, an electrician
and a carpenter. Motivating them to go out and find work have
been interesting.
I
have an extensive background in US business planning, fund-raising
for growing entrepreneurial companies. I am the CEO of a venture
to provide training, coaching, and eventually microcredit
to entrepreneurs in the USA, with the first training program
scheduled to be held this summer.
Are
there any other Grameen replication programs operating in
Costa Rica? How might I contact them? Whom can I communicate
with to get answers and determine how best to get started?
Barry
Stevens
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Costa Rica
E-mail: barrystevens@earthlink.net
April 2, 2004
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Need
More Resources Just To Scale Up |
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I
am writing to you from Lago Agrio, Ecuador, where I direct
a Grameen type microcredit program. Celia Varera assisted
us in the establishment of the program. Currently, we have
eighty-five women participants. We would like to expand
our program, as there is a great need for microcredit in
this part of the world. Our program is situated along the
Ecuador-Colombia border and a variety of factors, such as
decrease in coffee prices, the war in Colombia and the influx
of refugees, have exacerbated the poverty level in that
region.
I hope you might
be able to suggest where we could obtain further training
on the Grameen model, as well as more resources to expand
our program.
I would greatly
appreciate any information that you might have in this regard.
Enrique
de la Cruz
Lago Agrio, Ecuador
E-mail: enriko29@hotmail.com
June 24, 2004
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After reading
Mr. Muhammad Yunu’s book “ Towards a World without
Poverty” and going through the Grameen Bank web page,
articles and the Projects that have been implemented though
the replicated programs of the bank in Mexico, I am writing
to you on behalf of the Micro Regions Strategy General Coordinator,
to get further information on how is participate conditions
in the Grameen International Dialogue as well as the Grameen
International Training Programs.
Is there a protocol
as for us to exchange information with you, regarding the
interest of the Mexican Government through its Micro Regions
Strategy to participate for us to get a hold of the agendas
to be treated in the Programs.
MA Joanna Cristo Aguirre
Deputy Director of International Relations
Ministry of Social Development Mexico
General Coordination of Micro Regions
SEDESOL
Tel: 005553285000 ext. 55054
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You
are a true light to the world !
I finished your
book recently and was touched and moved by what you have
accomplished and the way in which you approach the world.
I am the founder and president of Engineers Without Borders
Australia (EWB) and after reading your book I placed it
on the ‘must read list’ for all our members.
I strongly support your philosophy towards development and
poverty and would like to open a dialogue with you so that
I can learn more about making a positive difference. I am
interested in introducing many of the Grameen ideas into
EWB and further develop our operations and development philosophy.
I would be willing to come to Bangladesh to meet with you.
Engineers Without
Borders Australia (EWB) works with disadvantaged communities
around the world to improve their quality of life through
sustainable and appropriate engineering projects. Examples
of these are micro energy production, potable water access,
computing access and skills, waste management systems, etc.
We always work together with the community or village, both
in the design and implementation phases and are based on
the concept of two way growth. We are a very new organisation
and are still in our formative stages. This is a powerful
asset since we are not bound by the bureaucracy and history
that limits so many other development organisations. On
the other hand our inexperience makes us immature and often
unsure. We are looking for mentors to guide us through these
early stages and help us become effective in the work we
do.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours, in peace,
Daniel
Almagor
President
Engineers Without Borders Australia
<d.almagor@ewb-aus.org.au>
Monday, 23 August 2004
Thank
you!
I am an Italian
woman who lives in Denmark. I have just read your book and
I would like to thank you and the other people who work
for Grameen for your action.
Your book has
provoked many different feelings inside me, but most of
all I think it reminds that life is an adventure, and that
the only limits we put to our growth as human beings are
inside us.
I think your action is also important for those, like me,
who do not need the direct help from Grameen: What you are
doing shows that there is hope for humanity now and in the
future generations. It shows that dreams can be shaped into
realities. And that's what we all need.
Thank you very
much,
Valeria
Lacorte
<lacortevaleria@hotmail.com>
Tuesday, 17 August 2004
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