Micro-Lending Supports Nearly 800 Roma Entrepreneurs
On May 30, 2008, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), microfinance institutions USTOI and Mikrofond, and USAID officially closed the Inclusive Business Development of Roma Communities Project. Since its launch in 2006, project partners provided loans totaling 894,792 euros to 796 micro-entrepreneurs—primarily ethnic minorities—from 11 locations in Bulgaria. Six USTOI and Mikrofond staff were recognized by CRS for their outstanding contributions to the project’s success at the close-out event.
The two partners, USTOI and Mikrofond, will continue to provide financial and non-financial services to disadvantaged groups in Bulgaria.
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| USTOI Executive Director Pavel Velev (second from left), Boryana Karamiteva, Polina Pasakleva (USTOI staff), with micro-entrepreneur Lidia Dimitrova (second from right), and her son. |
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