Caption: Women sell produce and used clothes at a street market in Lenbe, Haiti., Credit: Ruxandra Guidi
Image by: Ruxandra Guidi 
Women sell produce and used clothes at a street market in Lenbe, Haiti. 

Haitian Bank for the Poor Rewards Advancement

From: Ruxandra Guidi
Length: 00:03:12

The idea is simple: Haitian women take a small loan and commit to improving their family’s standard of living. The better they do, the more money they can borrow at no interest. So far, it’s helped tens of thousands of Haitians. Read the full description.
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Piece Description

In the town of Lenbe, in Northern Haiti, there is a sprawling street market like any other where you can find food, used clothes, charcoal and car parts, among other things. Most of the people selling are women who couldn't come up with the money to start their own simple businesses as recently as two to three years ago. But by giving away "Ti Kredis" or "Little Credits" -- as little as $10 a month -- Fonkoze has helped create a new generation of street vendors in Lenbe who can now send their children to school, afford food for their families, and become more financially independent.

Broadcast History

Aired once, on NPR's "Day to Day"