Save the Children hands over micro-finance programme to its partners

Save the Children in Vietnam announced that the organization would hand over its financial interest generation from a five-year micro-finance programme to Can Tho Women Union to support the union’s direct support to poor women in the Mekong River Delta province.

Apart from that, Save the Children also provided trainings on the management and skills of the progamme’s implementation to ensure a smooth transition for its women partner.

Save the Children started the micro-finance programme, known as “Golden Hands” in 2009 with an aim to financially assist poor women in Mekong River Delta, namely Can Tho, Hau Giang and Ca Mau provinces, to improve their incomes through support on establishment of small business and aqua and agricultural production.

“Household economic condition always clings to the health, education, and potential growth of children. Therefore, Save the Children’s livelihoods projects regard mothers of children as the prime beneficiaries with the expectation that they will use their increasing incomes for the sake of their children”, said Gunnar Andersen.

The programme, funded by Chevron, has proved its influence on poor women with the average growth of client of 22% each year. A programme evaluation workshop was organized last week heard that 74% of its clients increased their income through loans and gradually replaced the high-interest loans by private lenders.

At the workshop, vice chairperson from Can Tho Women Union, Vo Kim Thoa revealed a plan to establish “Fund for Women” in replacement of micro-finance programme in the light of the programme wrapping-up in June