8/7/2019 India Microenterprise Project - Tearfund New Zealand

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IndIa

ABOUT INDIAThe vast and diverse Indian subcontinent has long been fought over. From Aryan,

Afgahn and Persian invasions to the British Raj, India has been under foreign rule

from the early 1800s until its independence in 1947. The subsequent division of

the subcontinent into Pakistan and India has not been an easy one. Three wars

over disputed territories have marred an otherwise successful bid for freedom

from colonialism.

India has a romance that is all together beautiful and terrible. Bollywood success,

majestic buildings, a large skilled workforce, economic reform and courtship by

the worlds superpowers India seems to be on the rise. On the other side of

the coin, extreme poverty haunts the land as the worlds largest slums continue

to spread. Communal, caste and regional tensions also mar Indian culture. Likenew wealth that lands next door to the most desperate of human circumstances,

India struggles with unimaginable poverty amidst the countrys economic success.

TEAR FUND IN INDIA SAAhASEE MIcROENTERpRISE pROjEcT

TEAR Funds local par tner, Saahasee, is addressing key issues of pover ty and

community empowerment within the sprawling slums of Mumbai (Bombay).

Focusing mainly on developing womens skills in running small credit cooperatives,

Saahasee is working in association with womens federations in Thane.

The federations represent more than 2000 women involved in approximately

200 self-help groups. Each group, involving 15-20 poor women, creates a savings

fund through monthly contributions. Small business loans from these funds arerotated among the members to help create livelihoods and lift families out of

poverty. The federations monitor the self-help groups activities and provide a

wider platform to promote empowerment, training, advocacy and links with

other relevant organizations.

Since the projects commencement in 2002, these groups and federations

have developed some capacities to manage and govern their programmes.

Now TEAR Fund is focusing on taking their capacities further by expanding

and promoting the self help groups activities ultimately bring sustained

improvements in the lives of poor families. Training in health, education, and

economic empowerment are also objectives of the project.

This is a NZAID match funded project. The funding is provided on 4:1 matchmeaning the NZAID provides 80% while TEAR NZ matches 20% of the total

funding of the project each year.

Call to donate: 0800 800 777 or visit www.tearfund.org.nz

REpLAcE

QUIcK FAcTSFull name:Republic of India

poulation:1.1 billion (UN, 2005)

caital:New Delhi

Most-oulated ity:Mumbai (Bombay)

Area:3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles),excluding Indian-administered

Kashmir(100,569 sq km/38,830 sq miles)

Maor languages:Hindi, English and at least

16 other ofcial languagesMaor religion:Hinduism, Islam, Christianity,

Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism

Life exetany:62 years (men), 65 years (women)

(UN)

Monetary unit:1 Indian Rupee = 100 paiseMain exorts:Agricultural products, textile goods,

gems and jewellery, software services

and technology, engineering goods,

chemicals, leather products

GNI er aita:

US $720 (World Bank, 2006)

Miroenterrise proet canging Lives

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PHO

TO:COmPassiOn

MIcROENTERpRISE DEVELOpMENT

A chance meeting brought a message of hope to a destitute

Sonya Kumbli, and through a TEAR Fund suppor ted

microenterprise project, her life has moved well beyond

mere survival.

Ten years ago Sonya Kumbli moved to Mumbai in search of

hope. Instead, she faced destitution in the urban ghettos where

seven million slum dwellers competed for meager resources.

While she had some tailoring skills, there were no jobs. When

it seemed that all hope was lost, she met a slum worker from

Saahasee (TEAR Funds Christian development partner).

Sonya was given the opportunity to join a savings and

cooperative group through Saahasee, which means courage.

The idea of saving money seemed impossible, but when she

met the 20 women in the group who had suffered what she

was going though, she agreed to try. She started with 20

rupees a week (NZ$0.80). After 12 months, she received a

loan to purchase a sewing machine. Overnight, her one-room

dwelling became a tailoring shop. To her neighbours surprise ,

customers started appearing, and soon she was earning

Rs. 2,500 to 3,500 (NZ$113-159) a month.

Today, after three loans, Sonya rents another room for the

tailoring business and has acquired two more machines as well

as an employee. She has plans to expand her business and

create more jobs for her neighbours.

Still saving weekly, Sonya remains a faithful member of her

group, Saahasee. This has continued to provide training in

business, management and governance.

The 2,000 families involved in Saahaase groups are moving

towards achieving sustainability through businesses like Sonyas.

Saahasees involvement will diminish as the group leaders take

on more responsibility.

All Sonya needed was the encouragement and guidance from

that Saahasee worker to join her neighbours in a co-operative

effort, turning skills into microenterprise and hope for her family.

MIcROENTERpRISE OFFERS hOpE

National Ofce:

PO Box 8315, Symonds St,

Auckland 1150

New Zealand

Freephone: 0800 800 777

Facsimile: (09) 629 1050

Email: enquiries@tearfund.org.nz

Website: www.tearfund.org.nz

CONTACTS:

pROjEcT pROFILES

TEAR Fund partners with indigenous Christian organisations to help the poor createincome generation opportunities.

Microenterprise Loans

A air credit loan empowers the poor to create a business to help them work their wayout o poverty. It releases them rom relying on unscrupulous loan sharks who chargecrippling interest rates and encourages them to be sel-sufcient rather than rely on aid.

Business training MentoringLoan applicants meet specifc criteria and are trained to help them improve and growtheir businesses.

thriving BusinessesWith no welare systems and ew jobs available, small businesses are an essential part othe economy. Behind each business there is an extended amily, employees, suppliers andcustomers who beneft.

Loans repaid

About 98 per cent o loans are repaid and the money is recycled back into thecommunity so others can be given the opportunity to realise their dreams.

Miroenterrise proet canging Lives