Freedom from Hunger, founded in 1946 as Meals for Millions, is a private,
nonprofit, nonsectarian organization. Their Credit with Education program
integrates basic village banking methodologies with non-formal adult
education the topics of health, nutrition and micro-enterprise management.
Targeted to women who live in absolute poverty, the program provides access
to cash credit, savings opportunities to start or build home-based
businesses. The women receive their loans as a group and co-sign for each
other, providing a joint guarantee of repayment. At weekly repayment
meetings, the women participate in learning sessions that cover the basics
of health, child nutrition, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and skills
for better business management. Credit with Education is implemented rural
regions of the developing world in partnership with local organizations.
Because loans are made at commercial interest rates and repayment of loans
is 99%, the programs can become financially self-sufficient. Impact studies
have documented statistically significant improvements in women's economic
status as well as child health and nutrition. Freedom from Hunger's goal is
to bring the benefits of Credit with Education to 2.2 million by 2005.
Publications
Freedom from Hunger publishes an Annual Report; several information brochures, a periodic newsletter, audited financials, and various studies, analyses, and technical documents on Credit with Education and micro credit. A full list of publications is available upon request.
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Date Entered: 5/1/1997
Date Edited: 3/23/2009
Date Revised: 7/18/2006 12:12:09 PM
Health Referral Number: HR1680
Accession Number: DP91A0467 NHIC Home Page