After I graduated from university, I started to get a job. Fortunately, my sister had been working in Microfinance Project implemented by Pact at that time. During my holidays, I used to help my sister to complete her works in time. So, I’m familiar with the project’s activities. I thought that Microfinace isn’t a good one for poor people although I was in my dream to help people. I confused with the works of the Project. Although they are telling that we are helping poor households, they charge for some activities and take interest on the loans. I used to tell “Sis, you are a big liar to people”.
After one or two month came back from University, I was very happy with my friends. I had a good time with my friends. One Saturday, my father told me “Son, you need to get a job experience, don’t spoil yourself”. So, I thought it over and over again. At last, I submitted an application to Microfinance Project and started to study what is microfinance?
Since I had submitted an application, it was another four months. I spent my times studying, playing, enjoying fun with my friends. It was Friday evening, it was my sister who took a good new. My sister told me “Boy, you get a chance”. I got a request whether can I work in another city which was already a prject area. And I decided to go there.
Another two years was gone, I got a lot of experience with Microfinance project and I realized what Microfinance is. I thought my dream come close to me and I knew that I was very happy when I was with the villagers. I was happy helping with cash and non cash activities to poor households. We went to project village to meet the clients and giving advice, showing we care about the poor families.
After Nargis Cyclone in 2008, Delta region was severely damaged. After one year, I wanna go to there to percitipate in restarting of Microfinance activities. So, I made an official request to move there. Luckily, I was transferred to there by board of Management. I was very happy and went to there and joined the team. Two years passed, and I’m still working with the poor families through field promotors.
I haven’t change mind for poor people. After two years, I feel something is wrong with our clients. Finally, I realize that people from Cyclone area change a lot. Most of the poor households are getting trouble with repayments. I just can’t understand what’s going on. There are a lot of job oppourtinity in here. Why did people get trouble with repayment?
During 2010, there was a flood in June and most of the people lost some of their crops, we went to the villages and took some evidences and we reported it. According to project beneficiaries welfare program members who lost crops was provided with cash. After Nargis Cyclone, people on affected area were provided with cash and support from many countries, Local NGO, INGO, government and some private company. Moreover, there are other NGOs working under the same umbrella. They have the same goals but different strategy. Some provide in “Grant”.
I’m not telling anything about giving things such as building schools, village pond, well and some machine for cultivation. But I think it isn’t good thing giving Cash in Grant. As a consequence, people are thinking that many organizations will help them with Cash assistant when they get trouble. Actually, some didn’t get trouble but they would like to get like others. I think Nargis Cyclone destroyed not only their properties but also their spirit that loves the “TRUTH”. Instead of providing cash as Grant, we should take more responsibilities. (Example, we should give high yield species, fertilizers, antibiotic and fungicide, rather than cash for their cultivation). Or we should make mutual agreements with Agriculture Company to provide above mention. It’s very easy to write on paper but I know it’s very difficult to do in real life. If we can get positive effect on our beneficiaries, we should try it. I know all NGO, INGO and Local NGO have the same goals to help people. But we need to know that some helps make negative effective on beneficiaries.
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