Good Community Development must include Economic Development.....One practical way: the Women in Business Micro-credit Program
If you've had the misfortune to converse with me lately on what makes good community development and I've bored you with the observation that effective community development must include economic development (through community-business partnerships, social enterprises and microbusinesses), I apologise. It's not an original thought, but one I endorse through experience. Only additional income through real jobs or profitable self employment can alleviate poverty and its debilitating consequences [Full Stop]Knowing it, and achieving it in a practical sense on any meaningful scale, are two completely different things of course. Especially in a regional market the size of Launceston with our relative lack of social entrepreneurial skills and start up resources. Even then, I've yet to find too many examples of so called successful social enterprises in major cities that really generate that much employment without some level of grant input or cross subsidisation from other activities.
So I'm excited to have found out about DED & DPAC's Women in Business Micro-Credit Programbecause it's has real promise to improve people's lives. Extending micro-credit to women has proven to have been extremely beneficial to whole communities in the majority world, so there's no reason why it shouldn't be equally beneficial here. Whatsmore I know that there is no shortage of creativity, artistry and skills in the community which could be funnelled into worthwhile microbusiness endeavours.
For all I know I'm the last person of either gender in creation to discover the existence of this program. If not, check please check it out and send the information on to women whom you believe can benefit from this scheme.
posted by Alan Melton @ 3:21 pm
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