Microenterprise

Microenterprise and Microloans

Empowering Entrepreneurship

Heifer's partners from the Philippines to Peru are cashing in on the earning potential of their small farms by using limited resources and investments to develop small businesses.

Heifer's micro-enterprise programs build on their unique ideas and skills, empowering them to create their own economic opportunities and achieve self-sufficiency.

Heifer provides the "start-up capital" of a farm animal – a no-interest living micro-loan – small cash loans to purchase equipment or supplies and the training that helps farmers become entrepreneurs.

After this, the rest is up to the participants, who use their ingenuity to start milk-processing plants, weaving centers, honey-marketing collectives and many other kinds of enterprises that generate income and employment opportunities.
 
Because even a small microloan from Heifer can help people start and expand tiny businesses with big benefits: self-reliance, better access to safe drinking water, more nutritious food, education for children and investment in the community.

Examples of Heifer's Support of Microloans

With Heifer's assistance, urban youth in the United States have found a niche market in growing organic lettuce that they sell to fine restaurants and natural supermarkets.

A village woman in India bought equipment to start her own gem-cutting business using money she earned by selling offspring from her Heifer goat.

Almost 20 years ago in Kanpo Village, China, Li Zengpu's family received a dairy goat. Using money earned from the goats over the years, the family began a dairy cow business that now delivers milk to more than 90 households.

Leo's Story of receiving a microloan from Heifer International

As a conductor on one of the Philippines' colorful and elaborately decorated jeepney buses, Leo Cabilan barely earned enough to support his family.

He had no savings. He had no financial cushion against natural disasters, major health problems or other emergencies.

Learning of Heifer's work, Leo joined a farmers' group and eventually received an animal loan of three goats and a water buffalo. The family used the animals as start-up capital, and began growing bananas, pineapples, mangoes and peanuts. They hired out their water buffalo while working on area farms; then Mrs. Cabilan opened a fruit stand.

Within three years, the family raised enough money to pay back their "living loan," the microloan from Heifer International. Along the way, they improved their nutrition, built a better house and started a savings account.

Poor communities may be short on cash and resources, but the members enjoy an abundance of hope, ingenuity and willingness to work hard and take risks.

All they need is a start - and that's what Heifer gives them.