In Senegal, providing micro-entrepreneurship opportunities for women who struggle to provide for their families is the goal of the Anti-Poverty Initiative (API), Advance #3021544.
When API received UMC #GivingTuesday donations plus matching funds in 2014, 65 women in Guediawaye, Dakar, received credit support for income-generating activities that economically empowered them and directly impacted their families. Here’s what some of the women had to say:
“With API’s loan, I expanded my business to include palm oil and fish sales. I am now able to pay my child’s school expenses.”—Monique
“My husband abandoned me and my eight children. Life was very difficult. Things changed when I enrolled in API’s program. My business is doing well and I am better able to meet the needs of my household.”— Coumba
“I was a stay-at-home wife, doing nothing to support the household for lack of business capital. Later, I discovered API and enrolled in their program. I now run a small business and support my husband in meeting the needs of our family.” — Emma
UMC #GivingTuesday provided API an important platform to raise funds and overcome previous challenges to raise capital for women in need. API participated in both the 2013 and 2014 #GivingTuesday events, which resulted in women becoming their own bosses for the very first time.
