Room for Compassion
Visit www.roomforcompassion.com
Mission: Taking transdisciplinary and holistic methods to empower disadvantaged communities through education, economic opportunities, and social movements.
Vision: Solving global disparities involves looking at the big picture, therefore it is important to address issues on the individual and community level. We want to combine public health, business, engineering, and creative solutions from other disciplines. Our ideas involve a coalescence of higher education, financial opportunities, social change, and self empowerment to break the cycle of poverty. We believe that all human beings regardless of citizenship, beliefs, or status deserve this opportunity.
Project Title: Exploring Microfinance for Single Mothers in Shirati, Tanzania
Project Summary:
Poverty often exists in single female households largely due to the perpetuation of a cycle which denies women access to resources. This issue is especially prevalent in the rural Tanzanian village of Shirati. Women who are single parents without supportive extended family networks are forced to make ends meet. The patriarchal nature of the village sub-culture deems men as autonomous decision makers and household providers while women are subservient and expected to be devout wives that are accepting of polygamy. Single mothers are consequences of a rare divorce, abandonment, or widowing. Countless studies and case examples have shown that enabling women to become financially stable benefits the entire family and community. Women are much more likely than men to invest in their families, education, and community when economic growth is allowed. They are also more likely to not default on loans.
Raising awareness in the U.S. is a start to educating more people about the issue in Shirati. The ability to enlist donors and volunteer is also crucial to jumpstart the microlending project. Next, garnering the opinions of women in Shirati is necessary to understand the potential loaning amount or merchandise and what types of businesses the women are interested in starting. The idea is to create a personalized microfinance experience for every single mother we approach. Supporting a single mother microlender will also involve than just the loan, but also guidance throughout the business process and social support to realizing ability to succeed.
Pilot Surveying in Shirati
• Used Killion, a trusted translator, from Shirati
• Interviewed 13 single mothers interested in microfinance
• Most women are in the early 30’s and have primary school education
• Loan requests ranged from $300-$500
• Women were curious about duration of loans, interest rates, and frequency of payback
• Ideas for businesses ranged from selling vegetables, pastries, and clothes making
Profile 1: Eunice John
Eunice is currently a small time dress maker in the local market of Shirati. She currently has 3 children under the age of 18. Her ambition is to obtain a micro-loan to expand her business into making school uniforms for children. She is hoping for a $500 loan in a 1 year timespan.
Profile 2: Joyce Edwin
Joyce is currently stays at home to watch her children. Whenever there is a break from her routine, Joyce tries to work temporary jobs to feed her family. She is hoping to apply for a $400 loan to buy and sell dgae (dee-gah), which is a type of small fish consumed heavily in the area.
Profile 3: Flora Oleich
Flora has an idea to sell corn and flour in the market. These ingredients are widely used, especially for ugali, a staple meal item in Tanzania. Flora currently has 2 children and is requesting $300 to fund her entrepreneurial idea. She currently has business experience because she buys fish from fisherman and sells them at the main
Profile 4: Jenifer Odali
Jenifer currently has 3 children under the age of 18. She currently works temporary jobs. One of her occupations involved borrowing a bicycle to sell water but has been unable to effectively borrow the bicycle and retrieve water recently. Jenifer is requesting $300 to jump start a small business in selling fish at the market.
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