The Chiapas Project Junior Committee’s Divot Dash Polo Match at the Las Colinas Polo Club brought together friends, families, and philanthropists during a beautiful Sunday afternoon. However there was more on the line than just the championship trophy. Proceeds from the event will help eradicate poverty in some of the poorest regions in the world.
“Some people say it’s the global silver bullet of poverty which is amazing,” said the Director of the Chiapas Project Junior Committee Susan Seifert.
“It started in Chiapas, Mexico which is the poorest state and the furthest south state in Mexico,” said Honorary Chiapas Project Chairman John Muse.
The Chiapas Project is a non-profit organization and initiative founded by Dallas real estate developer, Lucy Billingsley, to support microfinancing for women living in poverty in Latin America.
“Microfinancing is this wonderful, simple concept,” said the President of the Chiapas Project Tricia Bridges. “You give a woman a small loan and she can start a business. For example you give someone $50 and they can buy thread so they can make a shawl to sell in the market. When a woman gets her first loan when they put that money in their hand sometimes you’ll see them sit and just stare at their hand for a while. They’ve never in their whole life had that much money in their hand.”
The women who receive these loans usually live on less than $2 a day and have access to very little.
“So because they can’t go to traditional banks like you and I they can go to these microfinance institutions and take out a loan and start their own businesses,” said Junior Committee President Whitney Muse. “They bring income to their households and really lift themselves out of poverty.”
The loan repayment rate is a remarkable 98 percent and as a result women can save for the future, invest in their children’s education and create healthier homes for their families to live in.
“With things like the Junior Committee and the Chiapas Project where you get the next generation of leaders being a part of it I cannot imagine anything but exponential growth,” said Board Advisory Member Alfonso Montiel.
The Chiapas Project recently completed their goal of raising 3.3 million dollars and have now embarked upon a new three year goal of raising another 2 million dollars to make microfinancing available to even more women.
“Here in the states we have welfare,” said Whitney Muse. “We have our families. We have so many safety nets to fall back on. The poor don’t have any of that.”
Take a look at the video produced by DFWReporting.com above!
Leave comments on this video below!
Loading ...
June 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
98% loan repayment! Why aren’t we using this method in the US as well?
Great story, it’s nice to hear that there is a self sustaining program to help people increase their quality of life.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Great story Linds!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Great event! Wonderful weather, awesome turnout and over $11,000 raised!
visit http://www.chiapas-project.org to get involved
November 10th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Thanks for the info. I’ve been looking to join a Nonprofit Junior Committee, and I think this could be the one!