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Mexico
Grameen Carso Launched
First Loan Disbursement Ceremony of Grameen Carso at the Oaxaca Branch

Grameen Trust launched Grameen Carso (GC), a "Build-Operate-Manage (BOM)" project in Mexico in collaboration with the Fundacion Carlos Slim. It started the first branch in the Oaxaca state of Mexico. GC plans to set up 36 branches and aims to serve over 80,000 poor women within 5 years with microfinancial services. GC will provide microcredit at a lower cost to the borrowers.

GT appointed Mr. Shamsul Alam Khan Chowdhury as the Project Director of Grameen Carso. He worked for Grameen Bank and Grameen Trust for many years, and was also the Project Director of Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project (TGMP). Mr. Chowdhury reached Mexico on May 28, 2009 and his team of 3 branch managers reached Mexico on June 17, 2009. They undertook cultural and Spanish language training in Guatemala prior to starting their work in Mexico. The Project Director recruited several local staff and trained them on the Grameen methodologies.

The Oaxaca branch of Grameen Carso disbursed its first loan to 12 members from three centers on July 3, 2009. The average loan size was US$ 270. The borrowers plan to use the microcredit to open grocery shops, make shoes, and other small businesses.

Report by : Dilip Kumar Sen

India
MIG-Kerala Project Starts Operation
First Loan Disbursement Ceremony of MIG - Kerala

June 26, 2009 is a special day for Microcredit Initiatives of Grameen (MIG) - Kerala project. On this day, the MIG-Kerala project officially started its microcredit program by disbursing loans of Rs. 211,000 to 33 members of the Vellar Kovalam branch. Members have taken loans from the project for cloth, rice, and flour businesses, a fruit shop, a stationary shop, and purchases of sewing machines, etc. The Vellar Kovalam location is the first branch of MIG Kerala project. The branch has set up 3 centers and already has 55 members in 11 groups.

The first loan disbursement ceremony was a simple event. The members arrived at the office of MIG - Kerala at 9:30 in the morning.

The proceedings began with a special prayer. Mr. Golok Chandra Roy, Project Director of the MIG-Kerala project welcomed the guests and members. The honored guests and the members of the microcredit program thanked Grameen for taking this initiative in their region.

The members selected for MIG-Kerala project are the poorest of poor living in the area. They live in little huts on small pieces of land. They do not have any land for cultivation. 80% of the selected members are daily laborers. Some members have grocery shops or are engaged in vegetable business and swing works.

Report by : A.S.M. Shahidul Haque

Bangladesh
Project Dignity Exhibition (Mela)
Grameen Trust (GT) launched Project Dignity (PD), a replication of Grameen Bank's Struggling Members program aimed at providing interest-free and collateral-free loans to beggars to help them find alternative sources of income to alleviate their poverty and lead a dignified life in the society. Eleven partner organizations have partnered with Grameen Trust to implement Project Dignity.


Visitors at the Project Dignity Mela
Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD), a PD partner, arranged a one day mela or exhibition on March 22, 2009 at their Mangalbari branch in Naogaon District of Bangladesh. The main objectives of the mela were to raise awareness surrounding the plight of beggars and to encourage and recognize the efforts of Grameen Trust's Project Dignity members to improve their lifestyle. Project Dignity members of CWFD gathered at a festive atmosphere to showcase their activities and sell their products. Besides the locals, other attendees included government and NGO officials and members of the media.



CWFD staff erected the stalls at the event for the Project Dignity members to sell their goods. They also provided the logistical support to ensure that the mela ran smoothly. The mela lasted from nine-to-five, with twenty-five Project Dignity members showcasing their products at the stalls and selling their goods to the visitors. The mela organizers gave gifts to those who had arranged the best stalls. CWFD also organized stalls for members' healthcare, legal aid and literacy programs. The Mela concluded with a cultural function participated by local artists who entertained the audience with songs, folk dramas, dance and poetry recitation.

Due to the first mela's positive response, Grameen Trust and other partner organizations are looking toward to organizing similar events in the future.

Report by: A.K.M. Harunur Rashid