Donation Address:
PARWAZ MicroFinance Institution
725 Washington St., Suite 300. Oakland, CA 94607 USA

Afghanistan Office:
Hajari Najari St., Road 1
Kart e Chahar, Kabul
Afghanistan
Mobile: +93 0799 779553
Katrin_fakiri@parwaz.org

USA Office:
725 Washington St.,
Suite 300. Oakland California 94607
Phone: (510)891-0616,
katrin_fakiri@parwaz.org

The United States branch of Parwaz, Parwaz Microlending Fund, operates under Green Cities Fund, Inc., a California public benefit corporation which is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible and 100% of donations received support Parwaz in Afghanistan.

Monthly Snapshot of Activities September 2007

Client Profile: 100% Women
Number of Areas: 45
Number of Provinces: 1

Number of Active Clients: 14,474
Amount of Portfolio Outstanding: $1,691,269
Clients Savings Outstanding: $90,110
Repayment Rate: 94%
Portfolio at Risk: 2.1%

Click here to Download Annual Report
(If needed, click here first for Acrobat Reader)

Who We Serve

Currently there are 7.5 million women in Afghanistan between the ages of 15 and 64. Many live in extreme poverty. Yet they are industrious, self-reliant and often skilled at craft work or in agriculture. With tools and materials purchased with micro-loans they can start their activities anew and provide for their families.

Currently, in order to qualify for a loan, borrowers must be poor and female, single head of household, married or a widow. Widows are given primary consideration. Borrowers must also posses a demonstrable skill and/or verbally provide a viable plan for their businesses and must not already have regular or permanent income. Many of our clients who do not have the necessary skills to start a micro business, take loans for their sons or husbands small micro retail activity; thus PARWAZ loans empower the entire family, not just the female.

Impact

PARWAZ clients’ lives have been changed dramatically since they have started taking loans. The overall objective of reducing poverty and vulnerability amongst a selected group of Afghan woman has been achieved.

Clients’ income have increased almost immediately after the loan is issued
clients have a higher sense of self respect because they are learning to stand on their own feet
The social dynamics of the family and her immediate surroundings have changes since she has become a breadwinner in the household
Clients have learned about the realities of the current market in Kabul
perhaps one of the most important changes that have taken place is that women engaged in certain business activities have become more mobile. For example, just a couple of years ago it was unheard of and prevented by the families for a woman to take her merchandise to the market herself to be sold. Increasingly in the past years, women clients are now venturing to the market themselves, negotiating with male store owners for an appropriate rate for the merchandise, taking orders and delivering the items.

To illustrate the changes in the clients’ lives, please read the case studies.