October 4, 2011

In our last update we had just begun working with Mr. Sfwat of  Kayam al Hana in some of the poorest communities in Cairo. In a little over a year we now have extended small loans to over 70 families in the ghetto of El Sida Zenab. Remarkable changes are taking place as the standard of living and the dignity of the people are raised. As we have seen in the villages outside the city, education and sanitation become a higher priority and the trickle down effects begin to change the community at large. As those who receive assistance flourish, a desire for growth and the stability that comes from hard work takes root and is contagious. Children begin to see their parents, once complacent, strive for a better life. The overall attitude and perspective begins to slowly reflect hope and opportunity rather than a resignation based on decades and sometimes centuries of poverty and the desperate lifestyle that poverty breeds.   

 As we have seen in other micro-lending programs around the world, it is often the loans that are received by women that make the biggest difference. We are very excited that a  large number of the micro-loans that we approve are going to women.  Building businesses and providing for their families underscores the value that women have in a culture that many times has been programmed differently. Restoring a measure of equality is a vital step toward creating more understanding and less ignorance and violence.  Again, the children's model for society begins to shift and a seed of permanent change is planted that inspires girls to believe in themselves and seek out better educations and lives that once were not even considered a possibility.

Your continued support and efforts are so appreciated. As we continue to grow, the applications for loans far outnumber our ability to fund them. Please consider partnering with us on a monthly basis. A very small amount every month can make such a tremendous difference in the lives of an entire family. The exciting part is that whatever is given does not simply go away. Each dollar donated and used to fund a micro-loan is re-payed by the loan recipient and then loaned out again and again. This is truly a story of abundance and permanent change that continues to multiply. Please let us know how you would like to be involved. We travel to Egypt a number of times each year and would be thrilled to include you or your group on one of our trips.

With Gratitude,

Yvonne Randolph

You'll Want To Be a Part of This!

March 11, 2009

February 21, 2009
Touch of Love is excited to report that we now have two villages in Egypt that are completely self-sustaining. This means that our initial infusions of micro-loan funding have created enough profitable loan repayments to continue to fund new loans without any further outside support from us or our contributors!

Our first self-sustained village Al Koum Al Akdar is now funding about 10 new loans per month with no more financial help from us. Our second sponsored village, Naslit Hanna is now completely funded and will be able support all new micro-loans on it's own from now on! We have two social workers in place in each village to over- see operations and provide support and accountability.

Creating an environment of hope through self-reliance is truly dramatic in countries like Egypt where political and religious turmoil, poverty and lack of education limit opportunities and freedom. We are so excited that they don't need our help any more!

We are also thrilled to announce that our third project in the slums of Cairo is now underway and we expect even more impressive results due to an even lower level of poverty in this urban area.

Please consider joining this effort! Every dollar that you donate is one that multiplies over and over again!  Please invite your friends!

Blessings,
Yvonne Randolph