In early September seven members of Women’s Empowerment International (WE), the San Diego based
non- profit organization - Winifred Cox and her husband Gary Schultz, Kirsten Hanson, Mary Rutland,
Sandy Hoover and Chris and Steve Heller - returned from a visit to WE’s newest partner, WomensTrust
in Pokuase, Ghana. Pokuase is a small but growing dirt crossroads community of surprising contrasts.
Pedestrians compete with hand-drawn carts, diesel-spewing trucks, open sewers and wandering
livestock. Clusters of board and mud homes are bordered by lush vegetation of palm, coconut and
banana trees, and small plots of flavorful tomatoes and football-sized yams.

The group spent five days meeting microfinance borrowers and learning about the real challenges
facing poor women and were touched and heartened by everyone they met. They were impressed by
the strength and commitment of the Board and staff of WomentsTrust, all of whom showed talent and
heart for their jobs. And when speaking about the clients and prospective clients they met, they were
filled with admiration. According to Win Cox (WE’s co-founder),” It’s impossible to describe the personal
impact of speaking with the loan clients about their goals and the challenges they face. We met in their
homes and businesses, which could be a rock quarry, farm or cargo container housing a beauty supply,
grocery, fabric or jewelry store. These remarkable women may be among the poorest of the poor but
they have a quiet grace and confidence in their ability to succeed. “ They simply want to make enough
money to support their families and send their children to school.

In the 5 days they were there, the group joined a meeting of local men bent on improving community
services, discussed community outreach with university faculty, met WT scholarship students, and after
a memorable welcome ceremony of song and dance, were asked by rural farm women for a loan to buy
a communal water pump.

All returned excited about the choice of WomensTrust as a partner and confident that WE loans are
critically needed and will be well invested in the women of Pokuase.