News Release

16th June 2011

A LITTLE MONEY GOES A VERY LONG WAY FOR SABA

A small loan by Twyford-based charity, Feed The Children (UK) to 35 year old Saba in Liberia is set to make all the difference to her family by enabling her to make a little more money from her tiny shop. Saba’s dream is that she can earn enough for her two sons, aged 8 and 14, to complete their schooling and go to college.

“For Saba to earn enough money in her community is extremely difficult, but she is ambitious for her sons as she realises that education is the passport out of poverty,” says Brian Main, Feed The Children’s chief executive officer. “This micro finance loan means she can buy in quantity from a wholesaler to make more profit so she can support her family and look to a brighter future.”

Up to now Saba has walked to a market in another town where products are slightly cheaper and bought just one of an item at a time to bring back and sell at a penny or two more in her own community. She rents a small space in her local community market where she has two home-made wooden tables from which she sells every day items such as cooking oil, chilli peppers, salt and other types of seasoning and spices.

With her new micro finance loan, Saba is now proud to have a bank account and to be able to repay the loan out of her profits, so her future and that of her children is looking much brighter.

“This approach is a much better way to help children in the poorest countries and we rely on donations from organisations and individuals in this country to make it happen,” adds Brian.

Feed The Children believes in supporting people like Saba who have the drive to improve their own lives. Micro loans are worth up to £200 each. They allow the establishment and expansion of businesses that provide a sustainable future for the borrower and their families, as well as supporting themthrough ongoing contact and advice, to make their businesses a success.

The loan is only given after a number of meetings to ensure the borrower has a business idea that will work. The loan is to be repaid over nine months but no repayment is required during the first three months which helps kick start the business. There is a very small interest charge so that the borrower realises that this is a serious opportunity. When the loan is repaid Feed The Children can then make a loan to another person to start a business – thereby helping many people.