Global Microfinance Brigades is one of our newest and most exciting programs. Developed originally in Honduras, Microfinance Brigades aims to empower local businesses and entrepreneurs to access the capital they so desperately need to develop their ideas and pull themselves out of the poverty cycle. Regardless of how many patients we see and how many water systems we build, until the communities in which we work are able to bring more financial resources into their lives, we will never see the level of sustainable development we so passionately seek. These resources can start small, and for many Hondurans this financial boost comes from Microfinance Brigades. Soon we hope the same will be true in Ghana.
Currently we are working closely with the government and with local partners to research into the current microfinance systems used in the Central Region of Ghana. We are looking for strong and experienced local banks, trained Ghanaian loan officers and community associations with loan-giving potential. Before we can even seek borrowers we need to find the institutions that will oversee the loans. In order for our work to be sustainable, we want to empower other groups to give the loans and receive the repayments.
Most excitingly, we are learning more about the businesses in the region with which we will be able to work. These businesses include: cocoa farming, kente cloth weaving, gari (powdered cassava) processing, palm oil production, fishing, and many more incredible local businesses. We will continue to send photos and videos from all of the business and entrepreneurs that we meet.
In line with our culture as a student-led development organization, Microfinance Brigades in Ghana wants everyone to be a part of this discussion. We are looking for innovative systems for providing financial services and need any ideas we can get. Feel free to contact Orion Haas (orion@globalbrigades.org) and Allen Gula (allen@globalbrigades.org) with your comments regarding Microfinance Brigades or anything related to Global Brigades.
