Update – Microfinance Bank and Future Projects

Microfinance Community Bank Meeting
As arranged, the week later we met the president of Reina de Cisne, the teacher and the school treasurer for a meeting at Janeth’s house. We agreed on figures, with an interest rate of 4% for members of the community and 3% for parents. 40% of the interest would go back to the bank, 50% to the school and 10% for admin costs. Having agreed all that, we typed up the paperwork and the next week me and Janeth went and opened up an account in one of the local banks. The bank was ready for loans to be taken out of by mid January – I will be going back to see how they are getting on in May.

Since then, me and Helen have both had to return to the UK. I am here until the end of April, earning a bit of money and seeing my parents, and Helen has returned early from her sabbatical to Deloitte. Whilst I have been home, I have been running some classes and assemblies at my old school, Chulmleigh Community College, who raised an amazing £488.63 last year for SelvaKids! The students so far have been amazing, really interested in Kichwa culture and enthusiastic about fundraising – watch this space!

Future Projects
Here are the things we will be focusing on in the next few months, if any of you want to help us fundraise/advertise/help in any possible way we would be VERY grateful and either talk to me or Helen or send us an email (selvakids@hotmail.co.uk)….

1. Handcrafts Micro-enterprise – Hopefully from September 2011 we will be selling beautiful Kichwa jewellery made by members of Paltacocha community.

2. Raising money to buy two horses for Paltacocha School. This will be a sustainable way to help the school, as not only will it help the community transport crops to the nearest river (meaning they can then be taken and sold in a local market), the horses can be “rented” out to members of the community – all profits to buying school resources. ($450-$500 needed).

3. Raising money to buy wellies for all children in Paltacocha school. The kids have to walk up to 2 hours to get to school, along very muddy and hilly paths. We have bought wellies for the kids at the other schools we work with, and would like to do the same here. ($250-$300 needed).

4. Plant a Chocolate Tree campaign. Explained above! We will be selling Chocolate Trees very soon and we would LOVE for you to buy one – you will be helping a community, a school and the rainforest! Watch this space!!

5. We are always on the lookout for old laptops to donate to the schools….