Unleash
Entrepreneurship
Lift communities out of poverty, one business at a time

IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT MEDA TRUST

Dear MEDA Trust supporters,

Thank you for helping the working poor in Afghanistan and Nicaragua find new roads out of poverty through your sponsorship of microloans.

The creation of MEDA Trust in 2006 provided us a great opportunity to offer supporters like you a chance to become closer to MEDA clients. When we designed MEDA Trust, we wanted to help you engage friends, colleagues and family members – to pass along your faith, values and concern for the poor to your children and grandchildren.

Three years ago, we embarked on the Afghanistan Challenge, where donations to our microfinance work in Afghanistan were matched dollar for dollar by the Government of Canada. You may have noticed that we no longer offer Afghan loans on MEDA Trust. That’s because – thanks to your support – we have met our goal to provide loan capital for microfinance in Afghanistan. That work continues through a group of microfinance banks with which MEDA remains closely connected.

With our commitment in Afghanistan now fulfilled, we had an opportunity to review the feasibility of our MEDA Trust initiative, and have decided to dismantle MEDA Trust effective March 31. Until March 31, you can still visit MEDA Trust to view loans, make new loans to Nicaragua and track repayments. Your donations to date will continue to be used by our partner microfinance institutions to fund new loans.

As the world of microfinance has grown beyond loans to offering savings and other financial services that many in the Western world take for granted, MEDA has broadened its areas of expertise to help financial institutions in developing countries meet the growing needs of their customers, ensuring they have continued access to financial services.

The advent of social media is providing new and exciting ways to engage others – so stay tuned for more information on our changing online landscape! Again, thank you for your continuing support, and your commitment to creating business solutions to poverty.

Allan Sauder
President

Elio's Story
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Elio's Story

Elio hopes to be able to improve his shop, buy new machinery and raw material.

Elio’s home smells of fresh wood. Proudly he shows the precious wooden chairs that he is delivering to a client. From their quality finish, you can tell that Elio is a fine carpenter.
Over 12 years, Elio’s carpentry business has grown. In addition to manufacturing custom furniture for clients, he also works with large companies, including contracts to construct 1,000 doors or chairs. He feels satisfied since also he also generates employment to benefit four families.

“I feel grateful with the credit that MiCredito (MEDA's microfinance partner in Nicaragua) has granted me because it helped me become a small entrepreneur," says Elio. With his profits, he has been able to buy a used pick-up truck and build a decent home for his family.

In the future, Elio hopes to be able to improve his shop, buy new machinery and raw material. “My greater desire is to maintain a good qualification in my credit record in the financial system, but mainly someday to be self sustainable.”