PETTY LOANS PROJECT [Archives:2000/30/Business & Economy]
“Yemen Times” was in the Old Sana’a City, precisely in Bustan Shareb zone, beside Nashwan School where premises of the Social Society for Family Development (SSFD) is situated. The society runs the petty loan project in Yemen. The project is executed not through this Society only as there are three others which do the same job. These are the Al-Islah Charitable Welfare Society, Yemeni Women Federation and the Sustained Women Society. All the four are funded by the UNDP.
We paid a courtesy visit to Mrs. Arwa Muhammed Ali Al-Shar’ee who is the SSFD Project Director and asked her information on her Society. She replied that six ladies thought of founding the SSFD which was founded in 1990 as a non-governmental institution. It is a voluntary-charitable society concerned with the improvement of the status of Yemeni families. Hand-in-hand, we encourage these women to develop the society. This includes protecting and developing their children. The Society won the confidence of a UN consultative team and on its recommendation the activities were confined to women living in 66 streets of Old Sana’a. I am in-charge for the Petty Loan Project (PLP). The project’s objective is to develop small and smaller projects with the aim of increasing women’s income.
Mrs.Arwa added that the first batch of 37 women received approved loans on June 7, 2000 and the second lot of 33 women received approved loans on June 25. As of today, 108 women have received petty loans. The loan amount does not exceed Yr.8,000 which is paid after carrying out field surveys.
“I should not fail to request you to tell your readers that Old Sana’a women are bound, according to their choice, to do either industrial or commercial works. Those who prefer industrial line, work in sewing and handicrafts and those who prefer the commercial line, work as grocers or brokers. The percentage of the former group reached 73 while the later’s 27 so far.
By Yasser M. Ahmed
Yemen Times
——
[archive-e:30-v:2000-y:2000-d:2000-07-24-p:./2000/iss30/b&e.htm]
