Small Business Finance in Malawi

This month I am asking you for money.

I expect you are as committed as I am to the immense value of small businesses for development both of the total economy and of the self-reliance of those who own and work for the businesses.

In Malawi they suffer the extra problems of poverty and Aids. Yet the Microloan Foundation is actively enabling local people to start their own businesses and provide for themselves and their families with micro loans between £15 and £50 a time. Since some 96% of these loans are repaid, the monies can then be reused to finance further businesses.

All this is being done by a low cost money-raising operation backed by a team of active volunteers in the UK, and a growing network of offices in small towns in Malawi run entirely by locals with advice and management from the UK.

So we are helping people suffering from major misfortunes to regain their self-respect and ability to provide for themselves. Details of the service, its organisation, case histories etc can be found at www.microloanfoundation.org.uk. I am sure you will be impressed by the results.

The Microloan Foundation is now also working to provide basic business and healthcare training and is helping develop a next stage of export businesses to provide a sound base for growth of larger companies.

All this work of course requires money. A major fund-raising event is planned for 24 September as a Charity Walk along the Grand Union canal in London. There is a 50 km route starting in Brentford or a shorter 15 km stretch starting in the Paddington Basin. Both finish at Limehouse.

I shall be taking part in the 'short' walk and would like all of you who support the aims of Microloan to sponsor me and contribute to further growth. These days the easiest and most effective way to provide such sponsorship is to do it online.

Please go to http://www.justgiving.com/StephenOrr to make your contribution. Or come and join us yourself!

Regards

Stephen Orr