India

Microenterprise Project Changing Lives

ABOUT INDIA QUICK FACTS

Full name:
The vast and diverse Indian subcontinent has long been fought over. From Aryan,
Republic of India
Afgahn and Persian invasions to the British Raj, India has been under foreign rule
from the early 1800s until its independence in 1947. The subsequent division of Population:
the subcontinent into Pakistan and India has not been an easy one. Three wars 1.1 billion (UN, 2005)
over disputed territories have marred an otherwise successful bid for freedom
Capital:
from colonialism.
New Delhi
India has a romance that is all together beautiful and terrible. Bollywood success,
Most-populated city:
majestic buildings, a large skilled workforce, economic reform and courtship by Mumbai (Bombay)
the world’s superpowers – India seems to be on the rise. On the other side of
the coin, extreme poverty haunts the land as the world’s largest slums continue Area:
to spread. Communal, caste and regional tensions also mar Indian culture. Like 3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles),
new wealth that lands next door to the most desperate of human circumstances, excluding Indian-administered
Kashmir (100,569 sq km/38,830 sq miles)
India struggles with unimaginable poverty amidst the country’s economic success.
Major languages:
Hindi, English and at least
16 other official languages

Major religion:
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity,
Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism

Life expectancy:
62 years (men), 65 years (women)
(UN)

Monetary unit:
1 Indian Rupee = 100 paise
TEAR FUND IN INDIA – Saahasee Microenterprise Project Main exports:
Agricultural products, textile goods,
TEAR Fund’s local partner, Saahasee, is addressing key issues of poverty and gems and jewellery, software services
community empowerment within the sprawling slums of Mumbai (Bombay). and technology, engineering goods,
Focusing mainly on developing women’s skills in running small credit cooperatives, chemicals, leather products
Saahasee is working in association with women’s federations in Thane.
GNI per capita:
The federations represent more than 2000 women involved in approximately US $720 (World Bank, 2006)
200 self-help groups. Each group, involving 15-20 poor women, creates a savings
fund through monthly contributions. Small business loans from these funds are
rotated among the members to help create livelihoods and lift families out of
poverty. The federations monitor the self-help groups’ activities and provide a
wider platform to promote empowerment, training, advocacy and links with
other relevant organizations.

Since the project’s commencement in 2002, these groups and federations

have developed some capacities to manage and govern their programmes.
Now TEAR Fund is focusing on taking their capacities further by expanding
and promoting the self help groups’ activities – ultimately bring sustained

REPLACE
improvements in the lives of poor families. Training in health, education, and
economic empowerment are also objectives of the project.

This is a NZAID match funded project. The funding is provided on 4:1 match
meaning the NZAID provides 80% while TEAR NZ matches 20% of the total
funding of the project each year.

Call to donate: 0800 800 777 or visit www.tearfund.org.nz

 Microenterprise Project Changing Lives

MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
TEAR Fund partners with indigenous Christian organisations to help the poor create
income generation opportunities.

Microenterprise Loans
A fair credit loan empowers the poor to create a business to help them work their way
out of poverty. It releases them from relying on unscrupulous loan sharks who charge
crippling interest rates and encourages them to be self-sufficient rather than rely on aid.

Business Training Mentoring

Loan applicants meet specific criteria and are trained to help them improve and grow
their busi¬nesses.

Thriving Businesses

PHOTO: Compassion
With no welfare systems and few jobs available, small businesses are an essential part of
the economy. Behind each business there is an extended family, employees, suppliers and
customers who benefit.

Loans Repaid
About 98 per cent of loans are repaid and the money is recycled back into the
community so others can be given the opportunity to realise their dreams.

MICROENTERPRISE OFFERS HOPE

A chance meeting brought a message of hope to a destitute
Sonya Kumbli, and through a TEAR Fund supported
microenterprise project, her life has moved well beyond
mere survival.
Ten years ago Sonya Kumbli moved to Mumbai in search of
hope. Instead, she faced destitution in the urban ghettos where
seven million slum dwellers competed for meager resources.
While she had some tailoring skills, there were no jobs. When
it seemed that all hope was lost, she met a slum worker from
Saahasee (TEAR Fund’s Christian development partner).
Sonya was given the opportunity to join a savings and
cooperative group through Saahasee, which means courage.
The idea of saving money seemed impossible, but when she
met the 20 women in the group who had suffered what she
was going though, she agreed to try. She started with 20
rupees a week (NZ$0.80). After 12 months, she received a
loan to purchase a sewing machine. Overnight, her one-room
dwelling became a tailoring shop. To her neighbours’ surprise,
customers started appearing, and soon she was earning
Rs. 2,500 to 3,500 (NZ$113-159) a month.
Today, after three loans, Sonya rents another room for the
tailoring business and has acquired two more machines as well
as an employee. She has plans to expand her business and
create more jobs for her neighbours.
Still saving weekly, Sonya remains a faithful member of her
group, Saahasee. This has continued to provide training in
business, management and governance.
The 2,000 families involved in Saahaase groups are moving
towards achieving sustainability through businesses like Sonya’s.
Saahasee’s involvement will diminish as the group leaders take
on more responsibility.
All Sonya needed was the encouragement and guidance from
that Saahasee worker to join her neighbours in a co-operative
effort, turning skills into microenterprise and hope for her family.

CONTACTS:
National Office: Freephone: 0800 800 777
PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Facsimile: (09) 629 1050
Auckland 1150 Email: enquiries@tearfund.org.nz
New Zealand Website: www.tearfund.org.nz PROJECT PROFILES