- Local groups decide what projects they want to borrow for -- know best what can boost the community and its economy -- and what fits well with the local needs/markets and culture.
- These investment provide business opportunities, jobs and incomes -- this is what is needed to prevent people from migrating to shanty towns where conditions are unlivable.
- The tree planting is ecologically beneficial -- preventing soil erosion, and sequestering carbon.
- The profits can be used to provide for additional community needs.
These are the reasons I have and will continue to contribute to ColorMeIn! Please Join me by using going to: Color Me In!
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All very good points Hank! - and indeed the two benchmarks for CMI's Green Loan program are the opportunities for ongoing income generation through group business, and environmental sustainability. I remember asking many of my friends in Zambia who were farmers how many trees they plant per year and the answer was almost "zero."
ReplyDeleteThe Green Belt Movement in Kenya has made its mark to this day planting millions of trees by paying women a small amount to maintain new seedlings, and we are along a similar thread hoping to help encourage a strong understand of the connection between rural economic development and the environment via the magic of micro-loans.
It is so exciting to be invoved with and at this point as we are just beginning to get rolling, every single donation and act of support makes an impact as people are waiting in real-time for their loan transfers. Captain Planet would be proud of your blog and the actions of many readers I am sure and hopefully will be sending some good wind our way to grow these green loans!