Empowering Women In Egypt With Micro-Loans

In Egypt’s densely populated cities, women are especially and unequally affected by limited decision-making power within families, communities and society at large. Ancient laws of inheritance are problematic for women. Single or widowed women can inherit only half of what a man does, and sons inherit a father’s land before the wives do. With little or no inheritance, women face difficulty applying for loans to support themselves and their children. In Cairo, HANDS ALONG the NILE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES(HANDS) Village Partnership program enables women to break the cycle of poverty by granting micro-loans. With such an opportunity, some women buy livestock which will reproduce and provide both food and an income from the eggs, milk or meat. Those with space to garden may buy tools or seeds and grow vegetables for resale. Others purchase textile supplies to produce goods which can be sold in the marketplace. Already, more than 10,000 families have been helped and more than 1,600 new jobs have been created through this program.