Using the Microfinance Value Chain for Humanitarian Services
We at Re-Vision Labs are only trying to change the world, something that is a group project, so we like to see other grassroots efforts in our community. Through the alumni association at Bainbridge Graduate Institute, I connected with my friend Kristine who is involved with addressing the serious problem of human trafficking. She asked if anyone had any microfinance connections and since we do, with the venerable Oikocredit, I inquired as to why.
Overlake Christian Church, an organization Kristine participates in, has been partnered with international organizations preventing, rescuing and offering healing to those victimized by human trafficking.
As anyone who frequents this blog no doubt already knows, Microfinance Institutions (MFI’s) operate in some areas where human rights take a backseat and exploitation is still a problem. So I think the folks at Overlake are asking – does the MFI “value chain” offer an opportunity to help the people who are outside event the boundaries of the “unbankable” – the victims of human trafficking.
A group based at the Overlake Christian Church near Seattle, Washington, are working on initiatives in orphan care and human trafficking issues and beginning their work in Kenya with orphan care and in Thailand with human trafficking.
Their goal in Kenya is to facilitate adoptions for 2000 street children in the next three years. They will provide transitional housing for the children and provide training and support to families able and willing to adopt. We believe it is important to build families and that these children know the love of parents. Microfinance will be incorporated to make it possible for families to adopt. We also see microfinance as a way to keep children from becoming orphans.
Their goal in Thailand is to prevent children from being trafficked. They also are working on rescuing 1000 girls in Pattaya in the next three years. They will be using microfinance as a tool to empower these women and to help them support themselves.
They hope to build a business plan that is replicable and sustainable so they can move into other countries.
This group is connecting with people and organizations who have been working in the microfinance space to gain knowledge about best practices on the ground. So I invited a few of the folks from OCC to EVO this Tuesday for the launch of our new community organizing movement for Oikocredit. Hopefully the place will be jammed with folks who can help. C’mon down.
