- Nurses in Eastern DR Congo

When AFIA-FEV began, we were convinced that micro finance could be an effective way to help vulnerable women. The loans we made possible to the women, although small even in poverty stricken DR Congo, had a great impact and made it possible for them to start selling vegetables, cloths, etc in order to help themselves and their children.

Despite our monthly wages per nurse only being between 80 USD and 100 USD and not enough to cover most of our own family needs, each member was able to contribute 200 USD. This was the beginning of a a rotary micro finance program for four recipient women, each beneficiary receiving a loan of 20 USD. AFIA-FEV later received a donation of 300 USD from a private French sponsor to reinforce our micro finance progam. The sponsor also helped our organization to receive helpful assistance from different people in order to further enhance our activities.

The program consists of reinforcing family economical empowerment. Most of our members shifted from villages to town in search for safety and stability. Therefore, they left all their belongings, including their fields and other properties.

The program's success is based on the application of virtues being the positive achievement and result of our sensitizations and education campaigns since women are sensitized on values and the importance of their practice, these have become part of their daily conversation topics for. For instance, to remind themselves about their obligation for the reimbursement, of the loan in solidarity, with other group members.

In order to be eligible for a loan, the women have to show that they have taken an HIV-test. The test is free and the women are not required to disclose the result. We do this because we believe that it is beneficial to everyone to know their health status. By connecting the HIV-test to the possibility to receive a loan, the women have an incentive to do the test.

It is important to mention that this program does not include any financial rate of interest by the fact that our beneficiaries have made an oath to engage them in compensation to practice in their daily economic activity.

Today we have two groups with 50 women in each group. The first time the women borrow they can lend $20 and the second time $40. Half of the women in each group borrow $20 and the other half $40. Two groups lend each $1500. In total AFIA-FEV lends $3000.

The women meet once a month and everyone pays back $4 ($1/week). With the paid back money the group lends out the money to new women that are in a similar situation and that they trust. So every month the group grows larger.

The money is lent in December and is paid pack in October, ten months later. It is important that all the money is returned, because only then are the women allowed to allowed to borrow again.

We are proud that 100% of the received funds are given to the organization's beneficiaries. The repayment from recipient women is roughly 99%.