WorldView Magazine - Summer 2009 - (Page 14)

Microfinance COME FOR ThE INFORMATION, STAY FOR ThE DANCING A volunteer learns more than she ever expected at a microfinance workshop by Dove Russo ’ll admit it: even after 6 months at site, I was still struggling with language. I could catch about 80% of what was said to me directly, but when Cape Verdeans began talking to one another, that percentage would decrease sharply. So when I overheard my counterpart Joao, who works both at the local government office and as a loan officer for Morabi in Porto Novo, mention to one of our Morabi clients “Morabi…women…this weekend…in Ribera Grande…with Sao Vicent,” I perked up. “There’s something going on with Morabi in Ribera Grande this weekend?” I asked. Yes, he replied. “Can I go?” I asked, jumping at the chance to be involved in what I assumed was a meeting of some sort, ever eager to learn more about how I could contribute to my community. He wavered for a minute, saying he had to check first with the Morabi coordinator I in Sao Vicent, the next island over, but he would let me know. The next day, I was in. Founded in 1992, Morabi (The Association of Support for SelfPromotion of Women in Development) is an NGO dedicated to women’s economic and social development that established a microfinance program in 1994 to reach “the poorest of the poor” in Cape Verde. After receiving my site placement, I was both excited and nervous at the prospect of working with Morabi through the Social Promotion Department at our local government office. Excited, because my degree in Women’s Studies might finally come in handy; nervous because I didn’t have a background in microcredit. Or finance. Or business. I spent my first months at site reading and studying everything I could about microcredit in general and, more specifically, in Cape Verde. I had gone from 0 to 60 in three months. Fatima Alves Women from Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicent surprise their fellow participants with a taste of Carnivale. The Carnivale in Mindelo is the largest in africa. Peace Corps Volunteer dove Russo poses for an end of conference photo. Pictured center is Fátima alves (blue shirt), the regional coordinator of Morabi for Sao Vicent, Santo antao and Sao nicolau. in denim jacket is arlinda Paris, the Morabi representative for Ribera grande. By the time this “meeting” in Ribera Grande rolled around, I was ready to dive in. The hiace (a large van converted to hold as many people as possible) was packed when it pulled up to my apartment Saturday morning at 8:45. (“Only 15 minutes late, Dove!” my counterpart exclaimed excitedly.) I climbed in with my backpack. “Where is your blanket?” he asked. “Um…” I replied, “I didn’t know I needed one, I was planning on staying with volunteers.” “No, no, you’ll all be staying together!” Oh. I was even more surprised when Joao then got OUT of the hiace. “You aren’t coming?” I asked nervously. “No, no. This is just for women.” Everyone waved to him as we drove off. Funana music blared from the stereo and the women chatted tentatively but excitedly; most of them Continued on page 16 1 Summer 2009 Fatima Alves

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WorldView Magazine - Summer 2009

WorldView Magazine - Summer 2009
Contents
More Peace Corps Campaign: Better and Bolder!
Africa Rural Connect
Readers Write
You Too Can Be Bill Gates
Taking Peace Corps Back into the Field
Come for the Information, Stay for the Dancing
A “Green” Community Rising
Microfinance Pioneer Receives 2009 Shriver Award
The Colombia Project
A Voice for the Unheard
Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Microfinance Podcasts
Selected Microfinance Resources
Bicycle! Bamenda! Orange!
Luck and Fame
A Step in the Right Direction
Bringing What She Loves
Letter from Botswana: First Tongues of the Kalahari
Letter from Tanzania: Homo Sapien in Africa
In the Beginning (There Was John)
The Peace Corps Community Making a Difference
Community News
Advertiser Index

WorldView Magazine - Summer 2009

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