Micro-finance: BRAC provides loans for women in Yambio, Western Equatoria state

From Sudan Radio Service, 29 June 2009:
BRAC Provides Loans in Yambio

(Yambio) – An international micro-finance institution, Building Resources Across Communities, BRAC, is providing loans for women in Yambio, Western Equatoria state.

The scheme is aimed at enabling women to help them set up small businesses so that they are not dependent on aid.

Speaking to Sudan Radio service on Monday, Esther Wayo, BRAC’s branch manager in Yambio, described how the loans were benefiting the women.

[Esther Wayo]: “We give loans to women. We gave to 19 members. They are now doing their businesses and they are happy. We started giving them loans on 20th June. The amount we give depends on their ability to repay the money. The amount ranges from 400 to 600 Sudanese pounds because this is our first program in Yambio, that is why we are giving at that rate. Most of the women are doing businesses like selling things, cooking food. With installments, somebody who is given 500 Sudanese pounds will give it back at the rate of 16 pounds per week. The way I look at it, is that it is going to increase development in the area, not only in Yambio but also in other states”.

Esther Wayo was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Yambio.