Thank you so much for your kind response. It is exciting to hear from
someone who is working in Tanzania!

I would encourage you to reach out to the microfinance director at the
Rift Valley Children’s Village. She will certainly have insights into
opportunities to connect her clients with the textile industry, and
can put you in touch with any clients that are currently working in
that area.

You can find her information at http://www.tanzanianchildrensfund.org.

Best of luck!

Jessie Cronan

I too enjoyed your article. I have undertaken some research at the macro level on microfinance in Tanzania and found your realistic assessment of the challenges and opportunities that this type of funding may provide both highly enlightening and stimulating.

There is nothing like personal anecdote and case study to bring to life, a subject that to the uninitiated could sound very dry.

As you correctly point out, microfinance may be transformational.

On a separate note, I know a colleague looking to establish links with textile companies to source clothing from Africa.

I would be interested in reaching out to both the microfinance programme director and Neema, as she establishes her sewing school. Perhaps they may form a seamstresses’ co-operative later?

Best wishes.

Jonathan Harris

Thank you so much for your comment – I am flattered that you like the piece, and that you plan to share it with your friends and coworkers!

It is interesting to think that, despite the very different contexts in which MFIs operate around the world, many of the underlying challenges and opportunities remain the same.

Thanks,

Jessie

I really enjoyed your piece. I think it gave a well balanced perspective on the potential and limitations of microfinance in a very short space.

I especially liked your points about exceptional people being exceptions and transformational change ocurring incrementally. The Red Bull comment was funny, too.

I plan on using your post as an intro to any friends who ask me what microfinance is all about and to also forward it among my coworkers at the MFI I work for in Central Asia as a example of how to place our work into a broader context.

Songbae