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Turkey
Kiyamet's Success Through Microcredit

Mrs. Kiyamet Yesiltepe has been a microcredit borrower of Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project (TGMP) since early 2008. She was born in 1967 at a village called Sati in Diyarbakir, Turkey. She is married, and has six children.

TGMP borrower Ms. Kiyamet at her garden
Her husband Mr. Omer is a shepherd. In order to support and help her husband, she took out a loan from TGMP to buy some cattle. After her first loan, she took out a second loan to buy more cattle. She repaid her loan by selling cheese, milk and yogurt. This is the way she became economically solvent.

In May 22, 2008, she became the first vegetable loanee (micro-greenhouse) member. She was very happy to grow vegetables using a greenhouse. She used some of the vegetables as food for her family and sold the rest in the market. She plans to repay her vegetable loan of 300 TL after selling the products in the market. She also taught her son, Ahmed, how to work in the greenhouse, and now he helps her in the field.

The Diyarbakir province Governor, Program General Manager, and the employees of TGMP visited her greenhouse and congratulated her. In return, she thanked Professor Dr. Aziz Akgul for giving her a chance to become a member of TGMP and raise her standard of living through microcredit.

Report by : Shamsun Nahar


Depok's Life Lit by Grameen Shikkha Scholarship

Depok received a scholarship from Grameen Shikkha. He receives a monthly stipend of 250 Taka. He leads a simple life living in a potters' community with his mother. His father had passed away before his birth. His mother is now almost 70. Of his brothers and sisters, he is the only one living with his mother and taking care of her. His brothers and sisters live separately. His mother has succumbed to the burden of leading a very difficult life.

Depok studying in his home
The potters' community has been struck especially harshly by poverty. Depok and his mother live in a rundown shack with a tin-roof over their head that was built by his father. The walls and roof have deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and repair. Even with a little rain, water drips inside the living areas of the house. Depok's elderly mother still makes pottery to earn a living. But she has trouble working due to her old age. The family often eats only once a day.

Depok is very hardworking boy. He attends the local school in his village and is currently studying in the ninth grade. Based on his academic performance and financial needs, Grameen Shikkha (Education) came forward to grant Depok a scholarship. The scholarship money has helped him and his family to reduce his educational expenses. Depok wants to be a doctor when he grows up, and he wishes to dedicate his life to help and treat other people.

Report by : Sara Shabnam and Nabila Ferdous

Nigeria
LAPO: A Ray of Hope

Mrs. Veronica Ogugua is a microcredit borrower of the Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO), a Grameen Trust partner in Nigeria. She lives in Anambra state. Her father had three wives and many children to support with his meager resources. Due to financial constraints she had been deprived of attaining formal education.

Mrs. Veronica Ogugua sewing at her shop
Her life came crashing down in 2004 when her husband died in a car accident. After paying for her husband's medical bills and burial expenses, she became financially drained. She was now a widow raising three children all by herself, without any prospect of getting a job. In her time of desperation, a friend told her about LAPO and its microcredit program. The microcredit from LAPO gave her hope to start a business and earn a living to support her children.

She joined the Victory union at Gwagwalada Branch in Abuja and got her first loan of N15,000. She the loan to buy some goods to start a business. With subsequent loans from LAPO she has been able to rent a shop for her business and furnish the shop. Through the success of her business she has accumulated two sewing machines, one industrial weaving machine, and a generator.

Mrs. Ogugua now has an average monthly income of N25,000 from her tailoring business. She is now able to provide for her children's basic needs. “My condition has changed for the better; women should learn from my example,” she said.

Report by : Nilufar Ghani