Church raises funds for sixth and seventh village banks!  Saltwater Church has again succeeded in reaching our goal of funding banks for the poor in a developing country. Saltwater has funded two banks for women in Tajikistan this year.  Click here to read more about our Tajikistan banks.

Two banks funded in 2006!  Malawi and Haiti
In 2006 Saltwater Church succeeded in reaching twice our goal of funding another bank for the poor in a developing country. Thanks in part to two anonymous donations, Saltwater raised enough to fund our fourth and fifth village banks!
    Malawi: The Mayamiko bank is located in Magochi, on the very southern tip of Lake Malawi. Unlike most FINCA banks, most of the clients of this bank are men who will use their loans to improve their fishing and food businesses. Mayamiko means "very thankful," an appropriate name for a bank that provides loans of more than a hundred dollars in a country where the average income is only four to six times as much. Click here to read more about our Malawi bank.
    Haiti: Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The Association D'Activite bank is located in Capotille, 15 km east of the ominously named Massacre River in northeastern Haiti. Most of the women of the bank will use their loans for food businesses in a village that lies in the shadows of a Levi's factory in Ouanamenthe. Click here to read about our bank in Haiti.

In 2005 SUUC funds a third bank: Afghanistan
     In January of 2005, a check for $5000 was sent to fund our third micro-bank. This bank is in Herat in western Afghanistan, a country ravaged by warfare and repressive rule by the Taliban. Focusing on economic advancement of impoverished women, village banking is especially needed in a country where women have only recently been allowed to participate in managing their own lives. Click here for information on our Afghan Bank. 

Second bank funded in 2004: the Congo
     Our previous micro-banks are still thriving in Lemba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). Every one of the original loans has been repaid and many borrowers have begun additional projects while newcomers enjoy using the capital freed by banking members who have moved on. FINCA provided us with photographs and documentation from the Lemba bank.  Click here for pictures of the Congo bank. 

First bank funded in 2003: Guatemala
    Through a combination of generous donations and sales of fair trade goods, our very first holiday sale raised $5,000, enough to fund our first village bank. Our first bank is located in Villa Nueva, Guatemala, not far from the capital. The women of the bank started businesses selling everything from food to cosmetics to hardware. All loans were repaid and the bank continues to thrive.

For information on village banking, see the FINCA website or read "Banker to the Poor" by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.