Burma is one of the most tightly-controlled countries in the world.
Although elections last year replaced the military regime with a civilian one, the country still regularly ranks among the worst for human rights and corruption.
Despite this, a group of New Zealanders has set up a successful microfinance charity providing small loans to the country’s poorest.
Khup Khan Than works as a tailor in the north of Burma. For years he made ends meet by doing minor repairs on people’s clothes.
But, thanks to a small bank loan, he is now able to buy leather polish to restore and resell old jackets, and on some days earns four times what he used to.
The loan came from a community bank set up by the Aotearoa Development Co-Operative (ADC) – a New Zealand-based microfinance charity.
Continue reading ‘Kiwis help with small loans for Burma’s poorest‘.
Image: Himal
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