Posted by
Mark McConnell on Thursday, November 02, 2006 4:00:24 AM
Microfinance does not strictly follow sound business practices, according to MILLIONS FOR MILLIONS, an article from The New Yorker. Columnist Connie Bruck describes how this is still an immature industry, that resonates with the instincts of the philanthropist more than with those of a businessman. She quotes Ingrid Munro, whose organization serves the slums of Nairobi: "You know, when people visit the worst kinds of slums—even worse than
anyone can imagine—and they walk around and meet people in their little
businesses and little homes, almost always, their first comment is ‘Why
are they so happy?’ They are smiling, proud, with dignity, showing what
they have achieved. And I say, ‘It’s because they have something today
which they didn’t have a month ago, and they have a plan and dream of
something they’re going to have in a month’s time that they don’t have
today.’ ”
tags: Microcredit Philanthropy