| Hard to believe that the summer is almost over. But it is.
Next month I will be traveling to India. It has been quite a while - February, 2008 was my last visit. I had planned one in January, 2009 but the terrorist attacks in Mumbai but an end to that visit as it was rumored they were looking for Americans. Then, later that year, I had a sudden episode of hip problems.
So it will be good to get back there and meet old friends.
I did have a chance to visit with Bishop Stephen Athipozhiyil, the Bishop of Alleppey. He came and spent a few days with us here in Connecticut. We had some good talks. He is ever grateful for all that you are doing for his families and wished that he could meet with as many sponsors as possible. He expressed great interest in our micro credit program which we started three years ago in Andhra Pradesh under Sister Carmel Paul.
In this issue of our e-newsletter, we would like to give you an overview of our Micro-credit activities, both in Alleppey and in Andra Pradesh.
Warmest regards in Saint Francis
Alan J. Ouimet, S.F.O. |
Alleppey
Dear friends,
The micro-credit program is one of our new ventures to better the living standard of our sponsored families. We hope this is going to be an forward moving process which leads our families to self development. Our focus is on families who are already engaged in some kind of small scale business and are willing to expand or start another business to supplement their daily income. If you wish your family to participate in this program please do contact me via email. (ffaalleppey@gmail.com)
Already Mr. Alan has provided funds to support a pilot project consisting of a few families among our beneficiary families. The amount provided will remain as a revolving fund (paid out and refunded by the family), for which the families will have to pay small interest against loan taken. These families will have to refund the loan with interest within an allotted time. We hope to collect Rs. 2.00 ($0.045) per hundred as interest for the loan. The families who are taking Rs. 5,000.00 ($ 113.64), will have to refund the loan within 10 months at Rs. 555/- ($ 12.61) per month. The families taking Rs. 10,000.00 ($227.27) will have to repay Rs. 1,110.00 ($25.23) in 10 installments and the family taking Rs. 25,000.00($568.18), will have to repay Rs. 2,775.00($63.06) in 10 installments. (Calculations are done @ Rs. 44.00 per dollar). We will be making them to sign bonded paper to guarantee refund in time and additional interest for default. Our staff concerning will be responsible to collect the money in time.
If you decide to assist your family by providing funds as micro credit for your family it will be "the gift that keeps on giving". How so? When your family pays back the amount borrowed that amount will be given to another family as a loan and then another. However, we wish we did not have to charge interest however. inflation being what it is in India, the capital amount would decrease rapidly if not supplemented by intererst. So, let me encourage you to think about the possibility of sending funds for the micro - credit program. But please contact me first to ensure that this is something your family can do.
Affectionately,
Sr. Daphne Anto |
Andhra Pradesh
Three years ago we started our program in another State in India - Andra Pradesh. In addition to a sponsorship program, we have assisted families with only micro credit loans in five different communities.
Here are the words of Sister Carmel Paul to give you an example of how these brave Sisters are assisting the poorest of the poor.
Gopalapuram is one of the Tribal area and the families belong to Savara Tribal group. A great risk has taken by the sisters to try for an experiment to provide a loan for the villagers. It is a Herculean task to make the villagers to do what we desire them to do. Above all they live from day to day and have no system of savings. Those in constant touch with these families have little confidence to take up any challenges with these people. But our late Sr. Rose Manuel had the courage to take such step for which many blamed her. Great surprise! They repay their loans in time. Ten families are each given Rs 10,000 ($227) as micro credit with an agreement to refund the capital with 20 installments at 1% interest as a developing fund. These people are tribals, members of the original tribes of India, and live in mountain areas. They are not yet developed and have no proper conveyance to reach their homes. They depend much on nature. Often affected by cyclone, drought, heavy monsoon etc and natural calamities are often occurring and they solely depend on nature for its wealth. Our surprise they are faithful to refund the loan in time without delay and from August 2009 to June 2010 they faithfully refund their loans.
Here are some cases as an example:
- Ivan Franklin has an auto rickshaw. We have loaned him Rs 10,000 ($227) to do needed and maintenance. He has refunded the entire amount before time and is grateful for the assistance given to give a helping hand in his crucial time of need.
- Sadu Sasikala borrowed rs 5000 ($115) for sale of saris and she is faithfully paying the refunds per agreement.
- G.V. Rojais a young girl who borrowed rs 10,000 ($227) to run a Day care center. She has promised to refund the loan in 20 installments but her earnings have surpassed her expectations and will complete her repayment ahead of time..
- F. Iswaryamma borrowed rs 5000 ($115) for Sale of ready made dress. She purchases the ready made dress wholesale and carries to the houses where she sells in retail price and earns a decent income. When the profit was more than of her expectations on her own she decided to pay the entire amount and closed the loan.
- Surya Mariamma borrowed rs 5000 ($127) and runs a Petty shop adjacent to her house and earns better her livelihood. She regularly pays the refund of the loan as per her agreement.
- Subha Laxmi runs a mobile food shop. Evening hours she prepares the noodles. She prepares required and food stuff and made needed arrangements in a four wheel cart with required light arrangements and hot noodles she sells and have always good customers for her business. She is taken Rs 15000 ($340) and refund the same as per her agreement 20 installments. She is ever grateful for all those who gave a helping hand to earn a better income and decent life in the city meeting many of her needs with sweat of her brow.
If you have any friends who wish to make a one-time donation rather than sponsor a family, the micro credit program is ideal. Please advise your relatives and friends to contact us at ffaindia@att.net.
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Franciscan Family Apostolate
93 Country Way, Madison, CT 06443
203-458-8172 --ffaindia@att.net
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Franciscan Family Apostolate
Alan Ouimet
Founder and President
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