Empowering communities through microfinance: PARO’s Peer Lending Circles model and SEED Winnipeg’s Asset Building model 

Date: 25 November 2008  Time: Noon to 1pm

It’s Free! 

Paro’s Peer Circles are self-selected groups of 4 - 7 women whose members share information and network amongst themselves for mutual benefit in business development. Circle members share their experiences, provide advice, support one another and help each other expand their contact networks. Peer Circle members also provide lending support through collective accountability and the supply of references, allowing PARO to use different lending criteria than those of traditional banking institutions. Peer lending has helped many Circle members to grow their businesses and set new goals for the future. SEED Winnipeg’s Asset Building Programs assist low-income participants to save to help purchase productive assets or household necessities. Program supports include money management training, one-on-one financial counselling and matched savings credits which add to the participants’ individual savings. Join us to hear from Stacia Kean, Project Coordinator for Accelerated Consulting at PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise and Louise Simbandumwe, a Director at SEED Winnipeg, and learn more about these two microfinance models.

 To reserve your place, contact Abraham Tounkara at atounkara@ccednet-rcdec.ca or call (416) 760-2577.  We recommend that you confirm your attendance soon, as space is limited.  Session timeline:  Greetings: 5mn; Presentation: 25mn; Questions: 30mn