A friend and reader of this blog sent me an email asking me if I could give this organisation a plug. After going over the RISE-UP From Poverty website I was more then happy to bring it to the attention of my readers. What this organisation is trying to do:
"RISE-UP From Poverty is a North American based non-profit organization that intends to partner with foundations and other non-profits, service clubs, global corporations, multilateral
organizations, educational institutions, social business institutions, and embassies to develop and enhance youth employment creation and social enterprise in developing countries. Through the development of social enterprise institutes, it will work to solve the core problems facing youth in each community. The first social enterprise institute
will be piloted in Guyana. Later focus will be on partner leader countries including Kenya, Papau New Guinea, Indonesia, El Salvador, Lebanon, and Somalia."
Professor Muhammad Yunus has publicly state that "I will support your efforts to build RISE-UP from Proverty - unconditionally. (Noble Peace Prize Winner in 2006).
I think what this organisation is trying to do is a very noble cause, and especially since it is trying to help the youth of Papua New Guinea, by using Micro Finance. Garima Tongia who is a Papua New Guinean micro finance expert with vast international exposure is a team member of this organisation. Garima currently works with the National Development Bank of PNG. He specializes in designing concepts on delivery methodologies and promoting Village Banking Concepts with the rural majority in the field of agricultural lending and financing for income generating activities. I believe with a Papua New Guinean on the Rise-Up From Poverty team it may be able to really help Papua New Guinean youths. Because there is someone on there pushing for PNG's interests.
There are alot of other international Micro Finance organisations out there but not that many try to help tackle the Poverty problem in Papua New Guinea. You always hear about Micro Finance non for profit organisation doing wonderfully jobs in other countries. But here in Papua New Guinea we are yet to reach the full potential of Micro Finance. There are emerging Micro Finance organisations in Papua New Guinea like the National Development Bank, Wau Micro Finance, etc. But their current exposure in Papua New Guinea is yet to make a major impact on PNG.
More funding is needed for the government owned National Development Bank to increase its Micro Finance reach. Instead of Papua New Guinea always waiting for handouts like some dog on the street. It is about time that we do more Micro Finance projects to impact Papua New Guinea in a positive manner. For example with youths earning a income there will be less tendency for them to want to hang around on the streets and create crime. Micro Finance in PNG is a step in the right direction so all Micro Finance projects should be encouraged, to help fight poverty. So wether it is the National Development Bank or RISE-UP from Poverty the government needs to increase funding to Micro Finance.
Poverty in Papua New Guinea is like a dieseas and Micro Finance in Papua New Guinea may just be the cure for it. Give loans to the people who the big banks like BSP, ANZ, & Westpac won't give loans to, just because they are too poverty stricken. What may seem like a small amount to the Fat Cats in Waigani is may just be a life saver for the wantoks on the streets.
Good Luck RISE-UP From Poverty I really do hope that you succeed in bring a positive change to PNG when you get here.
"RISE-UP From Poverty is a North American based non-profit organization that intends to partner with foundations and other non-profits, service clubs, global corporations, multilateral
organizations, educational institutions, social business institutions, and embassies to develop and enhance youth employment creation and social enterprise in developing countries. Through the development of social enterprise institutes, it will work to solve the core problems facing youth in each community. The first social enterprise institute
will be piloted in Guyana. Later focus will be on partner leader countries including Kenya, Papau New Guinea, Indonesia, El Salvador, Lebanon, and Somalia."
Professor Muhammad Yunus has publicly state that "I will support your efforts to build RISE-UP from Proverty - unconditionally. (Noble Peace Prize Winner in 2006).
I think what this organisation is trying to do is a very noble cause, and especially since it is trying to help the youth of Papua New Guinea, by using Micro Finance. Garima Tongia who is a Papua New Guinean micro finance expert with vast international exposure is a team member of this organisation. Garima currently works with the National Development Bank of PNG. He specializes in designing concepts on delivery methodologies and promoting Village Banking Concepts with the rural majority in the field of agricultural lending and financing for income generating activities. I believe with a Papua New Guinean on the Rise-Up From Poverty team it may be able to really help Papua New Guinean youths. Because there is someone on there pushing for PNG's interests.
There are alot of other international Micro Finance organisations out there but not that many try to help tackle the Poverty problem in Papua New Guinea. You always hear about Micro Finance non for profit organisation doing wonderfully jobs in other countries. But here in Papua New Guinea we are yet to reach the full potential of Micro Finance. There are emerging Micro Finance organisations in Papua New Guinea like the National Development Bank, Wau Micro Finance, etc. But their current exposure in Papua New Guinea is yet to make a major impact on PNG.
More funding is needed for the government owned National Development Bank to increase its Micro Finance reach. Instead of Papua New Guinea always waiting for handouts like some dog on the street. It is about time that we do more Micro Finance projects to impact Papua New Guinea in a positive manner. For example with youths earning a income there will be less tendency for them to want to hang around on the streets and create crime. Micro Finance in PNG is a step in the right direction so all Micro Finance projects should be encouraged, to help fight poverty. So wether it is the National Development Bank or RISE-UP from Poverty the government needs to increase funding to Micro Finance.
Poverty in Papua New Guinea is like a dieseas and Micro Finance in Papua New Guinea may just be the cure for it. Give loans to the people who the big banks like BSP, ANZ, & Westpac won't give loans to, just because they are too poverty stricken. What may seem like a small amount to the Fat Cats in Waigani is may just be a life saver for the wantoks on the streets.
Good Luck RISE-UP From Poverty I really do hope that you succeed in bring a positive change to PNG when you get here.
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Great post! Yes, I've read about Prof.Yunus and the Grameen Bank. Microfinance is a splendid concept to reach the poor and enable them to break out of poverty.
ReplyDeleteI think the success of microfinance banking in PNG is dependent on a number of factors including access to information. Most rural Papua New Guineans still have to understand how they can benefit from microfinance banking. It is thriving and expanding really fast in urban centers reaching out to most in the settlements and outskirts of the city. But there is still a large majority of people in the rural areas that don't have access to microfinance banks and information on how they can participate and benefit.
Just my two toea thoughts!