I have just started volunteering for RangDe. I am part of the Bangalore chapter. The most striking thing about RangDe is the openness & transparency involved in the whole social investment.The individual choses his/ her favorite borrower from different profiles & get regular updates.
I've been providing loans as investors. The management team is quite accessible, responsive, and professional. It's a genuine, honest, institution looking to make a change and you should help contribute to it whatever little you can.
I am a volunteer of the Bangalore Chapter. I love the concept, the model and their social commitment. The transparency and easy of investment stands far apart! I would strong recommend.
I had a great time working with Rang De to do a makeover of its web portal by providing it with a new skin and adding features, which would be helpful to both investors and borrowers. During my work, I learned about how Rang De works and use microfinance as a powerful tool to reduce poverty in India. Rang De charges an interest of 8.5 % on the social investment, which is like a wonderful figure to achieve in the world of microfinance. Normally interest soar upto 30-35 % which makes it painful for the borrower to borrow a loan. I am just very happy the way Rang De is working and flourishing in India. If Rang De march ahead, poverty, I am sure, will step back.
I volunteer for RangDe. I think the RangDe model is the best way to alleviate poverty and empower people at the bottom of the pyramid.
I have been involved with Rang De from January 2009. It is a technology venture working to increase the availability of micro-finance to all who really need it. It has been a great experience. I was involved with the inception of Mumbai chapter of Rang De. The thing that I like about Rang De is that it facilitates people to have sustainable growth in their life instead of depending on some one everytime. Also the use of technology to reduce the interest rates of micro-finance, was an aspect that really liked. It also provides an opportunity to go for field visits to meet the people who have benefitted from this provide any entreprenuerial skill training. As of now it has reach in 10 states of India, we are working to increase the reach and make a sizable impact.
This is a non profit which rates high on intention but low on legality.It takes money from "investors" and lends it to workers at a rate of around 500 bps higher than the borrowing rate.So essentially it is in the money lending business. In India, to lend money, either you have to be registered by RBI or under the various state Money Lender Acts. It is only a matter of time before the authorities catch up with this "nonprofit"
I have been involved with Rang De for past 5 months. What has appealed the most about the organization is the willingness to listen and transparency in operations. Rang De's model is also very clear - the primary objective is to lower micro-finance interest rates, something that has not happened despite all the buzz around MFIs.