Editor's Note: McKenzie Butler, our program officer, is wrapping up a trip in Peru this week. She sent this note while visiting the office of one of our partners in the country.
I am sitting here in the office of ECLOF, one of Five Talents' local partners in Peru. A client with her daughter has come by the office, and I am reminded of what Olga Zapata, ECLOF's Credit Manager, has been saying during our visit -- and to other people when introducing ECLOF Peru.
There is a high concentration of microfinance organizations and regulated banks in Lima especially, who provide loans to people. But what ECLOF and Five Talents do is different.
As Olga says (paraphrased), "Credit is not the goal, it is the means through which our staff help the whole person, by providing them with business advice, spiritual training, and a loan, etc."
That's what differentiates ECLOF and Five Talents from all the other organizations, because we believe in transformation.
I have heard this time and time again over the last week.
The photo you see here is of a vegetable seller in a market in the Peruvian highlands. Five Talents is currently exploring an opportunity to expand the program in Peru to unserved rural mountain communities.
Click here to find out more about our Peru program.
