Objective

The objective of this project is to reduce poverty in the Loreto province. By providing access to credits to female entrepreneurs, leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development are stimulated. This increases the income and improves the living conditions in terms of food, education and health. These entrepreneurs set examples to their own families and direct living environment.

The Banquitos Comunales are expected to be self-supporting as of 2017.

Method

In this project FEMI closely collaborates with Asociación Dignidad Perú. This organisation manages a trust fund that provides microcredits in accordance with the “Banquitos Comunales” programme.

A Banquito Comunal is formed by a group of female entrepreneurs, a ‘socias’, from a specific quarter who know each other and have at least one year of entrepreneurial experience. They elect their own board from their midst. The board chairs the weekly or bi-weekly obligatory meetings of a Banquito Comunal, which is also attended by an assessor from the Asociación Dignidad Perú.

The board members are trained in advance to chair meetings and to watch over internal regulations which state all rights and duties – a standard requirement for all Banquitos Comunales.

Credits that have been repaid may be re-offered. In this way a ‘revolving trust fund’ is created.

The ‘star’ socias are given the opportunity to take out an additional credit.