WMI was founded to assist Ugandan women by providing microloans to help them start or expand businesses. With initial loans, we have seen that businesswomen focus on improving their businesses, standards of living, and educational oportunities for their children. But once the ladies have training in bookkeeping and business operations, and have improved things for their families, we see the women turn their attention to improving the community. WMI has connected the businesswomen with other women, and connected them with resources to improve the life of the community. WMI is flexible and responsive to the local women, and equips them to make decisions that will affect the quality of their lives and grow the local economy. It's a great model, and a great use of resources -- both dollars and the human capital that is built.

innovative concept - in just two years it has really changed lives at a very low cost and has been developed to be sustainable over the long term. Great energy!

Women's Microfinance Initiative has made small loans to over 1000 women in rural villages in Uganda and Kenya, allowing the women to start their own businesses to support their families. WMI has also helped to build a community center in Byobo which houses a meeting room, a library and a computer center. One of WMI's greatest features is its goal to help the women graduate from microfinance loans to a banking relationship with a local financial institution.