I just arrived in Liberia last night after a harrowing tri-continent journey. As a surfer, I am excited to explore a new coastline, as a traveler I am excited to explore a new continent, and as a microfinance practitioner, I am excited to work on a new project. I am a native San Diegan, die-hard surfer, hopeless traveler and career-wise, I have worked in microfinance since I graduated from college in 2005. Working for the Foundation for Women in Liberia promises to be an adventure in many ways no doubt. I will spare you the boring details of waves and travels, but I am excited to discuss my work with the micro lending Foundation for Women in Liberia.

Liberia had been ravaged by civil war for over 15 years until, in 2006, the country elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Taking the country in a new direction, President Ellen, the first democratically elected female president in Africa, has encouraged women’s empowerment, and helped to stabilize the country. In 2006, the Foundation for Women of San Diego partnered with Liberian Emily Peal to begin a microlending program in the country to support women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment.

I will be working closely with the Foundation for Women Liberia to expand its impact by reaching new borrowers and by developing new services. Interestingly enough, my background has been working with individual loans in both the US and in India, so this will be my first time working with a “Grameen” style group lending methodology. I feel strongly that this group-lending model will be effective here in Liberia. Not only will the economic stimulus from microcredit benefit women, their families and their communities, but the group empowerment will facilitate the rebuilding of trust and cohesion in a society that dealt with war and strife for decades.

While in here Liberia over the next few months, I hope to share some of my notes and continue to stay involved with the San Diego Microfinance Alliance. Through the Alliance I have been lucky enough to connect with a vibrant microfinance community in San Diego. It is my hope that through some of my thoughts on my work in microfinance in Africa, I can contribute a bit to the dialogue on Microfinance in San Diego. Thanks for reading, and please, don’t be afraid to comment!