Home Sweet Home - Phase 1

*Making the kids eat food

*Playing cricket with them

*Buying a coat for an excited mil

*Late night green tea

*Kachouri dhokla chinese peanuts

*Drive to the plot

*Sitting in the sun and worrying about the tan

*Watching saas bahu serials

*Hogging on fave daal from a dhaaba

*Driving on lush green Chandigarh roads

*The chilling winter rain

*Making Shimla plans to see snowfall

*Secret kisses

*Wearing salwar kurtas

*Gossiping bitching remembering planning eating sleeping..

*Teaching cards to a very naive mil

*Driving to another city to catch up with friends

*Getting kisses from tiny nieces and nephews

*Waking up at 10 everyday and blaming the laziness on the weather

Aaahhh Phase 1 of our India trip ends today. Tomorrow I meet mommy, daddy, bro, bhabhi, niece and nephew and so many more people that I absolutely love. Hate parting with the Boy for so many days... but I need me time with my people every few months :)
Hope all is well at your end!

Loan a little. Change a lot

Dear Friends,

You want to do something good. You have some spare cash; maybe Rs. 500, 5000, 20,000, any number. You want to get it back after being used in the right direction. That’s where Milaap, a 4-year old microfinance firm, comes in.

I’m writing this post to let you know that you can make a difference in betterment of the needy NOT by donation but by enabling them to earn their bread and butter or serve basic needs like water and sanitation. They not only repay you your entire amount through monthly installments, but also become self reliant. Basically, you are replacing the rich and rude sahukaar who not only charges a whopping interest from the villagers who are in need but also enslaves and harasses them till no end. 

I have chosen five profiles who were all tricked into trafficking earlier (Devadasi) and are now trying to rebuild their life. They are mostly single mothers who are having a hard time taking care of their children with the meager amount of money they earn. By giving them a loan, you are not only making them more independent but also giving a better future to their children. Each profile repays within 18 months starting 1st April 2014 (Quick fact about Milaap: Since their operations from 2010, there hasn't been a single default).  You won’t get interest; only your full amount and blessings. Plus a whole lot of self-satisfaction.

So what do you need to do? Simply follow the following steps:

Step 1: Click on Milaap.org and sign in ; read FAQs if you need more info

Step 2: Click on one of the links that I have mentioned below

Step 3: Make a loan (starting with as little as Rs. 500);  let me know (or not) ; start getting repaid from 1st April 2014 to 1st October 2015 by monthly installments; reuse that money and smile!

List of profiles that I have chosen; you can, however, lend to anyone you want: 

1 - A 50-year old single mother and her group in Karnataka who wants to expand their animal rearing and brick manufacturing operations:

http://milaap.org/fund/sattevva-taikar-and-group/2002?&referrer_id=8833

2- Your loan will help Kamal K Dodamani and Group to kick-start a cattle-rearing business:

http://milaap.org/fund/kamal-k-dodamani-and-group/2003?&referrer_id=8833

3 - Your loan will help Lalita K Harijan and Group to purchase raw material for masala powder business:  

http://milaap.org/fund/lalita-k-harijan-and-group/2035?&referrer_id=8833

4 - Your loan will help Yallavva Shinge and Group to expand beauty parlour and other small businesses:  

http://milaap.org/fund/yallavva-shinge-and-group/2023?&referrer_id=8833

5 - Your loan will help Kavita Sanadi and Group to expand their small scale textiles and buffalo and goat rearing businesses:  

http://milaap.org/fund/kavita-sanadi-and-group/2036?&referrer_id=8833

Do spare a few minutes to check out the website. Let me know if you want to know anything else.

Thankyou and much love,

Nisha

P.S. Towards the end of this activity, the husband has pledged to loan as much as the highest lender that I'm able to inspire subject to a certain upper limit :)


Updated to add on 26th February 2014: 3 borrowers, 6 lenders and many more who have pledged to contribute by the coming Sunday. We are getting there. In a few days, I'll be sharing the names of these golden hearts. Won't you join them?