Lendwithcare is a micro finance charity which enables people in the UK to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries around the world. Rotary clubs across the UK have been raising funds since 2011 and Faversham Rotary has been involved since 2016.
The club has contributed to the national landmark total of £1 million, by raising and lending a total of £1645 to 62 entrepreneurs in 11 countries. They include farmers, tailors, market stall holders & food producers. The recipients of the loans use the funds to help them earn a living, often employing family and neighbours. They pay the loans back and the money can then be re-lent to person after person.
Mrs Bui Thi Hinh has been helped by a loan from Faversham Rotary. She is a pig farmer in Vietnam and she used her loan to buy more pigs for her business. This meant she could provide local employment and feed her family as the business prospered.
Anyone can make a loan through Lendwithcare or buy a voucher as a gift. Loans start from £15 and are typically repaid in 6-12 months.
Visit www.lendwithcare.org to make a loan and change a life.
The first Club meeting of 2021 had an international flavour when our European contact clubs joined us for an on-line get together. It was lovely to see familiar faces on screen and it was interesting to find out how other clubs are adapting to cope with these challenging times.
Faversham Rotary has four contact clubs – Harderwijk in the Netherlands, Bogense in Denmark, Vadstena in Sweden and Soest-Lippstadt in Germany.
We keep in touch with each other regularly, sometimes collaborating on projects but mainly we meet up at least once a year for a weekend of fun and fellowship. We take it in turn to host visits, sometimes just a couple of clubs getting together, sometimes all five clubs meeting up for a long weekend.
Last year’s visit had to be cancelled and at the moment this year’s is also in doubt, but we’ll be catching up with each other in person as soon as we can.
In the meantime there’s always another zoom…….!
The Rotary Club of Faversham Trust Fund - Charity No. 272383