$10 can change the world

Today in 100 countries, 250 banks are providing micro-lending as a hand up, rather than a handout, which helps to provide a real way out of poverty.

by Sherry Anshara — 

In 1983, Muhammad Yunus established Grameen, a bank devoted to providing the poorest of Bangladesh with miniscule loans. He aimed to help people by sparking a personal initiative and enterprise by which they could lift themselves out of poverty forever. It was an idea born in 1976, when he personally loaned 42 stool makers living in a tiny village $27 each.

Most of these loans went to women. Compared to traditional banking industry practices, Yunus’ vision was way out of the box. He believed that by helping the very poorest of the poor and teaching them to become independent, they would help themselves, their families and communities.

Today in 100 countries, 250 banks are providing micro-lending as a hand up, rather than a handout, which helps to provide a real way out of poverty. Yunus is making a difference in tangible ways, especially for the poorest women around the world. He is an authentic paradigm shifter. More information can be found at www.grameenfoundation.org.

Tennis pro, Anne Guerrant, has traveled the world, playing matches in some of the wealthiest places. During her career, she witnessed firsthand how the extremely poor co-existed alongside the extremely wealthy. This incongruency weighed upon her heart.

Guerrant helped create equal pay for women in sports; she now focuses on improving the lives of women by raising awareness for micro-credit programs in third world countries. From Wimbledon to serving the world’s poor, she is also a paradigm shifter for women. She and her husband, Terry, match funds contributed to their Guerrant Foundation. See: www.guerrantfoundation.org for more information.

This article is not a commercial for Mohammed Yunus or Anne and Terry Guerrant. It is about what $10 can do to support women who are very poor, with no education, no visible means of support and little power to change their circumstances — until now. Ten dollars is barely the cost of two Starbucks drinks.

In October 2007, inspired by Guerrant’s mission, my company partnered with her to support these women who couldn’t even imagine that a way out of poverty existed. I believe so strongly in this micro-lending mission that helps these women uplift their spirits, their worth and their abilities. With the $10 donations from our healing meditations, we have supported 89 women to start their own businesses.

The program is changing the lives of women, their children and their communities. It is having a snowball effect on the economies of the world — one woman at a time — and is growing exponentially. The fact is that 98 percent of these business owners repay the loan within six months, which, in turn, allows new borrowers to receive loans. The other two percent is paid back by their group, whose members support and help each other to achieve personal, professional and financial success. This helps create new economies. Ten $10 bills start a business and help establish new lives. Micro-lending is working around the world.

Who knows what incredible changes and shifts this will mean for everyone on the planet. Perhaps it is one way to manifest a new Earth without poverty and illiteracy, and supporting the creative power of women.

There are so many ways we can help each other. You may have an idea that will inspire, connect and change the world. You may be a paradigm shifter who could positively affect even more change. Think about it. You could be the one!

Sherry Anshara is a medical intuitive, author, founder of the QuantumPathic Center of Consciousness and creator of QuantumPathic Energy Methodsm in Scottsdale, Ariz. She hosts Conscious Healing, 5 p.m., Wednesdays on achieveradio.com. www.quantumpathic.com, [email protected] or 480-609-0874.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 27, Number 4, August/September 2008.