Credit with Wings

Credit with Wings is Roots & Wings International’s micro-lending program, designed to liberate impoverished Guatemalans from the shackles of loan predators who charge up to 20% interest per month. In our lending program, borrowers have access to credit on reasonable terms and benefit from its built-in support system.

Here’s how it works: Anybody in our beneficiary communities can apply for a loan of up to $200 to be used for any income generating activity. The borrowers are organized into groups of four and each borrower guarantees the loans of the others in his/her group. No other collateral is attached to guarantee the loan.

Each group member may veto the participation of any other person in the group, and when all members agree to their borrowing group the loans are made available. Each borrowing group is required to attend monthly meetings to provide them with guidance and give them the opportunity to exchange ideas on their business activities. In this way, all of the borrowers in the program share the risks and rewards of borrowing.

Not only are the rates for our micro-lending program competitive, but every dollar of interest paid is funneled back into our micro-lending and education programs. This means that the loans not only benefit the borrowers, but they benefit the borrowers’ communities as well!

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This is a landmark program for Roots & Wings International. With your help, we’ll be able to provide impoverished Guatemalans with the seeds to grow their own successful businesses. That’s the best gift one could possibly give.

For more information, please contact Erik Swanson at 503-564-8831, or email him at [email protected].