Giving micro-finance loans as gifts to empower hardworking men and women in poverty.

World Vision through its microfinance venture gives the opportunity to fund small loans to empower hardworking men and women in poverty. Individual and corporate donors may connect with the entrepreneur of their choice. It will seek out people willing to receive business coaching or those with past business experience. These two groups are more likely to repay their loans and become mentors to the next-generation of entrepreneurs. At the same time, we will seek individuals and groups to give opportunities to the poor but capable people by funding small laons as a one-time gift/ donation.

The field partner, which is a microfinance institution operating in World Vision communities, is one of the key stakeholders and implementer of this project. The micro-finance field partner for the World Vision SEED Program is Community Economic Ventures (CEV) which is based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

World Vision will focus on hardworking entrepreneurs (male or female) in poor communities who have no collateral or credit history to receive a traditional loan. Many of these entrepreneurs live in rural areas where traditional banks simply don't operate. Microfinance loans will help these individuals grow their businesses to the point where they can support themselves and their families and even "graduate" to the formal lending system.

All borrowers must come from World Vision’s development projects, be pre-qualified to receive a loan and have a business plan.

Borrowers will also receive skills training, technical support and help with accessing new markets.

Investing in women (but not exclusive to) can lift an entire community out of poverty. They show a higher loan repayment rate and consistently spend more of their income on their children and families.

Such loans enable women to access health care, buy nutritious food for their children, send their children to school, improve living conditions for their families and gain confidence and promote gender equality.