One of the most promising developments I have seen in my travels in the last few years is the proliferation of mobile phones. You could find them across the most distant reaches of India, and even in the poorest parts of Liberia you will find mobile phones and the towers that connect them to the [...]
Date archive for July, 2009
Mobile Technology and Microfinance
3 Reasons to Support Local Farmer’s Markets
The societal and environmental benefits of shopping for local produce are overwhelming even though often overlooked. The economic benefits, especially in direct relation to local small business are even more impressive. This article aims to encourage and inspire local microfinance supporters to continue to support local small business by shopping at San Diego’s many farmer’s [...]
Microfinance Programs to Combat Rising Unemployment
The European Commission announced last week plans to create a 100 million euro fund to pour into existing microcredit agencies within the European Union. Intended as a plan to combat unemployment by allowing entrepreneurs the means to start small businesses, the program will launch by next year. The fund is expected to provide capital for [...]
The mission of the San Diego Microfinance Alliance is to raise the profile of microfinance in San Diego. Our vision for doing this is two fold. First, we simply want to share how microfinance can empower the poor and disenfranchised to lift themselves out of poverty. Second, we want to find innovative opportunities for the [...]
Local Finance Helps Create Dr. Clark Store
Purity means everything to Oskar Thorvaldsson because he wants his nutrition supplement products to have the maximum impact on his customers’ health. “Most supplements have extra ingredients in them, flow agents, release agents, coatings and colors, which are not desirable to all consumers,” said Thovaldsson, owner of Dr. Clark Store. Thorvaldsson buys fresh, high-quality ingredients [...]
One of the most dramatic effects of the Liberian Civil War was the massive migration to Monrovia of displaced peoples from all over the country. As various rebel groups pillaged and plundered throughout the Liberian countryside, rural Liberians found it harder and harder to live as they had in the past. As their small businesses [...]
