Currently Helping Thousands of Participants All Over Liberia
FFWL Loan Officer in action.
The Foundation for Women has a long history of successful microcredit programs in India, Zambia, Niger and in the United States. The Liberia program was launched in 2006 In an effort to support newly elected Liberian President Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the women of Liberia.
The Foundation For Women Liberia’s (FFWL) microcredit program was designed to serve impoverished women and operates in 13 of the 15 counties of Liberia. FFWL’s core model is a Grameen style micro-lending program. Women come forward in groups of 30 and apply to the Foundation for Women Liberia for loans. Beginning with business training, a loan product is fit to the businesses and needs of the women, though generally the first cycle loan is $100 USD. Loans are repaid over the course of 7 months, and weekly meetings serve as the repayment venue, but also a time for women to come together to improve their community. At the encouragement for FFWL, women’s groups have rebuilt schools, planted community gardens and formed marketing cooperatives. The Foundation for Women Liberia sees the loans as merely a way to unlock the creative and community driven potential of these powerful women.
The Foundation For Women Liberia’s (FFWL) microcredit program was designed to serve impoverished women and operates in 13 of the 15 counties of Liberia. FFWL’s core model is a Grameen style micro-lending program. Women come forward in groups of 30 and apply to the Foundation for Women Liberia for loans. Beginning with business training, a loan product is fit to the businesses and needs of the women, though generally the first cycle loan is $100 USD. Loans are repaid over the course of 7 months, and weekly meetings serve as the repayment venue, but also a time for women to come together to improve their community. At the encouragement for FFWL, women’s groups have rebuilt schools, planted community gardens and formed marketing cooperatives. The Foundation for Women Liberia sees the loans as merely a way to unlock the creative and community driven potential of these powerful women.
FFW Founder Deborah Lindholm with Liberian FFWL COO David Beyan.
In addition to providing small loans to women’s groups, FFWL has taken on two education-related projects that complement its microcredit program. As part of weekly meetings, borrowers participate in a Literacy Education Program, attending basic adult literacy classes that cost less than $1/month to provide. Additionally, the Foundation for Women Liberia has created a Scholarship Education Program, raising funds for, and encouraging children of borrowers, to attend primary school and high school, as well as local university. The centers of FFWL as not only created in order to simplify loan tracking, the main goal of the centers is to recreate the communities that were destroyed by the 14 years of civil war in Liberia. The program officers and assistants of the FFWL are not just loan officers- they are more like social workers. Having a very heavy social slant allows the members to become truly empowered. Not only do their earnings increase, but their family members are being educated via the FFWL scholarship program, they are provided emergency health assistance, and support during times of bereavement.
His Excellency Vice President Joseph Boakai presents the office "first check" to FFW COO David Beyan.
Borrowers of FFWL loans do not have to present property values or any other valuable items as collateral. The only pre-qualification that a borrower needs is a proof of residency and business in the neighborhood in which the loans are being provided. That information can come from the center managers or members of the group that that potential borrowers are associated with. Africa’s first elected female head of state, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has praised the Foundation For Women Liberia for its inspiring work with women across the country.
FFW Participant displaying her wares.
The FFWL model works because we deal with our beneficiaries (impoverished women and the disabled) directly by empowering them through microloans, adult literacy, community building and access to basic banking services. The funding we provide is generated initially through our nonprofit fundraising efforts in the United States and via this website. That's where YOU come in! We warmly invite you to fund one of our participants, purchase an item from our Shop or attend one of our many fundraising events. Microcredit is a powerful way to really make a difference because it's not simply aid - it's empowering women to permanently improve their families' lives.