November Charity Focus - Wokai - Microcredit
During the month of November the YCIS secondary school’s charity focus will shift from Terry Fox to the outstanding work of Wokai. Wokai is a non-profit organization that enables Chinese people to lift themselves from poverty. Wokai is Chinese for “I start,” demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to helping the impoverished help themselves.
In November there will be a series of events to raise awareness of Wokai and the microcredit ideas of 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus. There will also be a small number of fund raising events, one being a free-dress day run by the Student Council on Friday, 27th November for 27 RMB. Why 27th for 27 RMB??? In 1976, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus planted the seed that created Grameen Bank by making a loan of $27 to a group of Bangladeshi women out of his own pocket. This small action was a catalyst for the global microfinance movement that has since provided millions of women around the world with the microloans they need to help start or improve a small business, provide for their families and escape the cycle of poverty. Money raised in November will be sent directly to the loans of entrepreneurs in rural China, empowering them to lift themselves from poverty.
For more information or if you wish to make a donation online visit: http://www.wokai.org/
2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus
