"The group loan for female heads of household" to support the them in the slums and empower them economically, shows that the number of the beneficiaries exceeds one thousand beneficiaries in three years

Both of "The association for Development and Enhancement of Women" and "The Japanese embassy" have finished implementing the project of "The group loan for female heads of house hold", which started in August 2016 and finished in July 2019 in Al-Gaiyara area in Misr el Qadima, in order to support female heads of house hold in this place, to start or develop projects for them, by providing them with group loans which improves their life level.

1349 women who get benefited from the project until now

The project has exceeded its goal since it began, where the number of the beneficiaries reached (1349) one thousand three hundred forty-nine beneficiaries since it has been started in August 2016 until it has been finished, by providing them with the group loans, starting from EGP 2,000 to EGP 3,000 per each beneficiary.

The targeted group

To reach the targeted group, and to make sure of the eligibility of each recipient, there are some steps to be done. One of the main steps is conducting propaganda for the program, in Al-Gaiyara area "the targeted area for the project", by explaining and spreading the program for the targeted groups who already have an established projects in the mentioned area. Coupled with continuing the work with the natural leaders of Al-Gaiyara areas and the nearby places, because that they partook in inquiring the participants who are applying to the project. In the case of having initial approval for the applied group to get a loan, their field trips are done through the addresses listed in the application, and making sure of the initial information that has been got, in addition to doing a case study and an economic study for the client project, and finally, the loan is disbursed to the client, in addition to following up with her to ensure that she will pay it on the agreed dates.

The criteria in selecting the beneficiaries

For the success of the project and its continuity, the beneficiaries have been chosen upon a set of standards. Most important standard is that the beneficiary must be carrying a valid national ID, and her age falls between 21 years and 62 years old. She has to be known with the handiness of good behavior and good reputation. Making sure that the beneficiary lives in the specified area "Al-Gaiyara" and established her project there as well, with requiring that this project has to be already active and this beneficiary is the FHHs for her family, or contributing in it. Periodically, training sessions are being held for the beneficiaries to train them on "The way of presenting their projects", "How to save their projects", and "How to calculate their revenues and expenses". Additionally, heeding that beneficiaries are sharing together their experiences within the similar projects. Also on a regular bases, the beneficiaries are being followed by the project coordinators, and providing them with technical support time by time to could properly manage their projects. Correspondingly, following up with the inflation and the purchasing value of the Egyptian pound and the effect of that on the beneficiaries' projects and their revenues, in order to keep the beneficiaries up with the market, and avoid any losses that might happen to their projects.

Diversity in projects:

The project insured on the importance of the variety of the projects that are going to be founded by the clients, where it reached to 42 different project, among various types like (commercial—industrial—craft—manual—food) as projects of ((Augury- beauty and Makeup Tools—sewing—grocery—electrical devices—hairdresser-manufacturing house ware—leather goods—Mobile devices—distributing gas pipes—hardware—foods- handicrafts).

One of the beneficiaries: the loan helped me to have an income in order to cover my house's expenses and my son's education

I am 31 years old, and I am holding a Diploma of commerce. I have got married about 7 years ago, and my husband is working in a workshop for women's bags. I have 3 children, a son in his first grade, and another is 3 years old, and a daughter with one year old. We are living in Establ Antar in Misr El qadima's neighborhood, We were living in a good case and our life was easy but with the time mean, our expenses increased and the house supplies grew up, so we got in trouble that me and my husband could not provide our children with their expenditures. In that time, I believed that I have to work and help my husband and my children in their expenditures, but I did not know what to work because my children was still young in that time. Until one of my neighbors gave me a suggestion and told me: what about starting a small project, even if you will sell fruits and vegetables in front of your home. Then she mentioned the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women, Al-Gaiyara branch, and it is an association that helps women and offers them loans to could establish their jobs. I immediately went to it and got aware of its conditions, then I collected a group of 5 women and we went to get the loan. I have received the first loan in my life, with an amount of 2 thousand Egyptian pound. It was a good sign for me, as I abled to launch my project and sell fruits and vegetables to my neighbors in my area. I have achieved a slight revenue that helped me to cover my house expenses and to pay the loan. This encouraged me to go for the second loan that was worth EGP3,000, which I received in February 2019, that offered me to get more goods for my project, pay for my son's private lessons, and get some essential requirements for my house, such as a TV and a children's bed. And, thanks for god, the life become much easy for me.