Jayamma Jayamma, the second child of ten, was born into acute poverty. Her mother died when she was young and her father could not provide an education for his children.

 

As there were many members in the family, life was a struggle. The other children were very young, and the responsibility to look after them fell on Jayamma's shoulders. Her father did not take any responsibility of the family. For years Jayamma and her other 3 sisters earned money as domestic maids and supported the family.

With the little she made, she sent the youngest children to school and paid for their education. She also paid for the weddings (an important financial duty that would usually fall on the father) of her elder sister. Years later she would also pay for the weddings of her 2 younger sisters and younger brother. As she had taken the full responsibility of her entire family, she never had a chance for her own marriage.

Jayamma's first loan with Grameen was invested in a small tailoring business. The business was a minor success and she was able to pay back the loan and save some money for the first time. Strong, resourceful, and full of love for her family, a small loan was all it took to help Jayamma realize her potential.

Jayashree Jayashree was born in Bangalore, the third child of the family. While she was very young, her family's financial situation became so difficult that she had to give up her schooling. Soon after she started a job training in a garment factory and made it her means of earning a living.

 

At age fifteen she was married. Her husband ran a cycle shop. Her mother in law was sick and her husband's income was not enough to support his family. Jayashree continued her factory work to support her husband's family.

During the first year of marriage she had a son. After he was 5 months old she went back to work in a garment factory in Bangalore earning 3000 rupees a month (75 dollars). The family just managed to survive with her income. Her husband's cycle shop lost a lot of money, and he was forced to take a job driving an auto rickshaw. At this time their second son came.

In 2007, Jayashree joined Grameen to buy her husband's auto rickshaw. Their income almost tripled. Now they are making 150 rupees a day (4 dollars). Jayashree hopes to apply for another loan in the future so that she can one day start her own garment business. She feels her dreams will come true with the help of Grameen's microcredit.

Nagaratna Nagartna grew up in a poor agrarian family, of five siblings. Her parents were very keen on education and all the children went to English middle school. Nagaratna wanted to continue to higher education, but after the 10th grade, her family had her married.

 

She started working in a garment factory with her husband to make living. After working and saving for some time they started a small petty shop. Since they could not invest much in the shop, they could never save any income. Local money lenders notoriously charge unfair interest rates and many small business owners fall victim to a lifetime of debt.

Around this time, they learned about Grameen and its microcredit. Nagaratna, along with 20 other women decided to join. In the first year Nagaratna took a loan of 10,000 Rupees (250 dollars) and invested it in the shop. That year they made a first-time profit of 20,000 Rupees (500 dollars) . Their second loan was also a success and they were able to invest money back into their business.

Today, Nagaratna has found a sea change in her life-style after joining Grameen. She has seen many ups and downs in her life, is today able to smile and say, “ I will always be with Grameen, it is like an Oasis in a Desert for women .”

Gowramma Born to a farming family outside of Bangalore. Her parents could not send her or her five siblings to school. Married at the age of 13, she soon had three sons and one daughter.

 

Gowramma and her husband left farming and moved to the city, hoping to give their children a better education. They started a coconut business but it incurred huge losses. Then, they took a loan of 60,000 rupees (1500 dollars) from a local money lender for her daughter's marriage. The money lender charged them ultra-high interest and their cycle of endless debt began.

This was when Gowramma joined Grameen Koota. In the first year, she took a loan of 5000 Rupees (125 dollars) and invested it in a coconut business. Her husband ran the coconut business and all the children went to day-labor work. Gowramma would make flower garlands at home. Out of their earnings she repaid the first loan amount. In the 2nd year, she took 7000 Rupees (175 dollars) and invested in a flower and coconut business. With her next loan she invested in a toy making shop.

Now Gowramma has 2 toy making machines in her shop. She also repaid the loan taken for her daughter's marriage. Gowramma's life has significantly improved with successful repayments for each loan from Grameen. Her dream is to one day construct a house for her family.