Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Excellent MicroCredit Article

This article demystifies micro-credit lending for anyone interested. Accurate, concise and entertaining, it provides real feedback on the variety of lending sites out there. Read it!

A Good Run for your Money: Which microlender makes best use of your $20?

Gotta love days like these



There have been some excellent happenings around town...

there is a new baby in the family who is totally sweet. just 6 or 7 little pounds and only opens her eyes a few times a day, but I love her all the same.

there is going to be (inch'allah) a new volunteer in Louga! I can't tell you how excited I am about this (my very own little baby to welcome into the world!) Not really, but with both of my neighbors and practically half of the volunteers I am in touch with checking out in the next two months, I think I will need the new company. And plus, this volunteer will work in Urban Agriculture, which I think is sorely needed in this town. You can see some photos of a training we recently did with a women's group on gardening in alternative containers. A visiting volunteer led the training and I supplemented with a little business knowledge. I've been following up with these women and they are awesome, super self-motivated and they don't get discouraged when the lizards eat their plants, they just fix the problem (alxamdoullilahi)

tomorrow is my first real session with the girls club-- a group of 20 or so high performing girls from a local middle school, led by last year's scholarship winner ($50 to buy school supplies). It will be a little tricky to get our program to fit into the girls' schedules, especially since the school will be striking, taking a 15-day vacation for Easter (you'd never know they were all Muslim) and ending in late May but we will make it happen. On the plan for this year are learning to use the Internet, learning to do dynamic presentations and improved research (on figures in African American history), a meeting with professional women and career discussion , an exchange of American and Senegalese cuisine and maybe even a visit to the American Embassy in Dakar where there is a great library for the students to use and maybe even a chance to meet with one of the women who works there. Budget poses a little bit of a problem (as it always does) but the school will help a little bit and we will find some money somewhere else I hope!

We are still cooking on occasion (made okonomiyaki the other day in my bathroom/kitchen/storage room) which turned out to be delicious and in my absolute boredom and (let's be honest) curiosity, I also pickled several pounds of beets. Hey, whatever keeps you sane. Cheers!