What I can do to help women in India

[Ino]

I'm so sick of these stories about rape and little girls being married off.

Some years ago, I saw a talk by Irshad Manji, author of The Trouble with Islam Today, a Muslim lesbian living in Canada, about violence against and oppression of women. An audience member asked what can one person do to help, and she replied "give microloans"... empower the women financially and they will be more respected, more valued, more independent. And their sons will be raised with that viewpoint.

I immediately gave several loans via kiva.org, using the filters to find women in particularly oppressive countries. I read that men have caught on that women are more likely to get microloans as women are more likely to repay them... and so they send their wives/sisters to apply for the loans which the men then control. So I looked especially for unmarried/divorced women.

I've loaned to women/women's groups in four different countries. The loans were always paid back. I then re-loaned the money or reclaimed it myself. It cost me nothing!

Although my financial situation is not so good these days, I'm going to make another loan... for MYSELF as much as for the recipient, to make myself feel like I am doing SOMETHING to help. One person at a time. I remember how good it made me feel, how connected I was to a real woman and the possibility that I could make a difference in her life.

Yeah, I'm going to do that again! India this time...

[oldandhappy]

1. I know this is not the answer you want

but

one of the best things we can do for women in the world is raise our kids with a greater awareness of the world and ethics and humanity and love for each other. We need good schools and libraries. You can volunteer at either or both. You can take girls out to lunch (with parental permission) and treat them nicely so they know how they should be treated. People in other countries will see this. People in other countries are very aware of what goes on here.

And your loan idea is terrific. Good for you!

[Ino]

2. That's all well and good

...if what you want is to help OUR kids, schools, libraries.

But I'm not interested in waiting for some abstract trickle-down empowerment. How long is that going to take? How much better do things have to be here to make a difference over there? How many hours volunteering at the library will it take to avoid one gang-rape in India?

I don't want to just sit here horrified and helpless at the stories I hear about the plight of oppressed women worldwide. WHAT CAN I DO? Take the neighbor's daughter out to lunch without seeming creepy? Uh no... I completed a loan for this woman...

Salma is a 44-year-old divorced woman who lives with her brother's family. She decided to get a divorce because of personal reasons. She is a very hard-working entrepreneur. She did not want to be a burden on her brother so she started a tailoring service 12 years ago. From this business she earns 2,000 INR per month. Salma requested a INR 25,000 loan through People's Forum to buy an extra sewing machine and more materials like fabric, thread, needles, etc. for her sewing business. Salma has a plan to start a tailoring training center so she wants to take a loan for that. In the future, Salma would like to save enough money so she can help and support her brother's family and will able to live independently.

Mission accomplished. I helped a real woman in India right NOW, which was the point of this thread. And she is planning to train others to be tailors. That ball is already rolling.

[tblue37]

4. That 25,000 INR she is asking for is just $400. It could change her life, for such a small cost!

And by training others with the machine, she can change their lives, too.

[Ino]

6. I contributed only $25

You chip in what you can (minimum $25). 12 people invested in her future.

It's not even a cost! When she repays the loan, I get my investment back (no interest though). India is a bit different from the other countries though. Due to India regulations, I won't get my $25 back for 3 years, even if it's been paid off before then. Kiva will use the money for other loans until the 3 years is up, but my risk is limited only to the person I initially chose. (I've loaned to 4 women before, and never had a default.)

[tblue37]

7. That $25 is more than half of what she asked forto start. The $400 is for future expansion--to buy a

sewing machine to train someone, and probably to ultimately grow her own business by having another tailor to work with.

The original request amounts to barely over $40, so your contribution made a huge difference to her!

Thanks for providing the info so the rest of us can help women like her.

[oldandhappy]

5. Great!

Good for you. You mentioned money was a problem and I was just sidetracked thinking of free stuff. Your action is forthright and positive.

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. K&R. n/t

[polly7]

8. K&R. nt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Micro loans, that is the best