Oaxaca 2012

As a social entrepreneur, I am passionate about microfinance and how it ties in with women’s empowerment in developing countries.

This April, I have aligned forces with Fundación En Vía of Oaxaca, Mexico. Fundación En Vía is committed to fighting poverty through the thoughtful combination of interest-free microloans, educational programs and sustainable tourism in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Fundación En Vía is a non-profit organization working to fight poverty in Oaxaca, Mexico, by combining interest-free microloans, educational programs, and sustainable tourism. Its microloan program gives women the opportunity to create or expand small businesses, empowering them to better provide for themselves and their families. Its educational programs provide them with the knowledge to make better financial decisions to fully capitalize on their loans. Its tourism model allows it to leverage the resources of tourism and funnel it into the community in a sustainable way, while educating travelers about the power of microfinance.

As part of the Oaxaca 2012 Initiative, I will be traveling there to work one-to-one with the recipients of these microloans as well as running a series of educational programs and workshops designed to provide women with the knowledge and tools necessary to grow their businesses and leverage their lives.

The powerful reality is that interest-free microloans are an excellent way to create sustainable communities and lower poverty levels across the board. These women, who are amazingly strong and resilient, are given the chance of a lifetime to create independence and financial stability for themselves and their families because of organizations such as En Vía doing what they do.

To learn more about them, visit: EnVia.org.