On Thursday morning we visited the main office of the Grameen Bank in Kosova. This is the bank that originated in Bangledesh and has provided some 3 million loans over the last 25 years to women who are among poorest of the poor. WE began the morning by meeting with two Bengali men who have been with the bank for over two decades. They were sent to Kosova to help keep the bank true to it's mission. They were most gracious and explained that since 2001 the Grameen Bank here has worked exclusively in the villiages and currently has 10,000 clients. All of whom are women, with most of the loans going to help them with agricultural projects. Less than 1% of their loans have been defalted.
After our visit in the offices we loaded up in vehicles and headed out to one of the villages where a meeting of women were having thier fortnighly (every two weeks) meeting to make a payment on their loans. No amount of reading about the bank could substitue for the hour spent visiting some women who are experiencing the lift their loans have bought. Since the women are too poor to put up collateral, Grameen requires the women form into groups of 5 and they, together, guarantee the loans of each other. They, in effect, become the collateral for each other. If one cannot pay the others are committed to pay for them for that period. It is a system that shows respect and demonstrates trust to a segment of society that often is not trusted outside thier circles.
We then went to the European Vision Univesity where we meet with the rector (president), Edmond Beqiri. He is a long time friend and man of peace with whom I have been associated for over six years. Last year was the first year of his new private university. They had 200 students. This year they have added 500 more! He truly cares about the students and is helping lead Kosova into a future where higher education will catch up with European standards.
That evening we had dinner with some good friends who have been here for 3 years. They are preparing to move back to the states with their 4 children. However, he intends to return at least 3 times a year to continue economic develpment work that he has has been doing with a Kingdom heart. The grace of God comes into this world in such varied and beautiful ways. How overwhelming/humbling to be swept up in it's transforming power and enlightenment.
Comments