Lend with Care

The picture above is of the Chimtsuko 0202 Group based in Nigeria, one of  20 businesses who have repaid their loans in full in October.  They used their (very modest) loan to buy more bales of clothing for their market stall. 

Lend with Care (LWC)
Since October 2011, Rotary clubs across the UK have been raising funds to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries, enabling them to start or expand their small businesses and work their way out of poverty, feed their families and send their children to school. More than £1 million has now been lent by Rotary to farmers, tailors, market stallholders and food producers to name just a few of the types of businesses Rotary have helped in 11 countries across Africa, Asia and South America.

Nantwich Rotary has been a regular contributor to LWC, and has re-invested monies repaid to go on to help others. By using repayments to fund new loans we have used our funds many times over and have to date (Nov 2024):
•    Made a total of 1706 loans
•    Lent a cumulative £139,002
•    Helped 15,978 entrepreneurs
•    Helped 56,596 family members
•    Created 3,999 jobs
•    Helped 76.573 people in total

International Chair, John Crowe said “Nantwich Rotary Club are proud to be a part of this fantastic initiative. Lend with care is a great way to help people out of poverty. You see exactly who the money is going to, and what they will use it for. The entrepreneur uses the funds to help them to earn a living, often employing family members and neighbours as well, helping to lift their communities out of poverty. They pay the loans back, which can be re-lent to person after person.  

Nantwich Rotary Club has a proud history of fundraising for charitable causes through community events, and Lendwithcare is a fantastic cause very popular with our members. Local people have given generously and it’s a testament to their generosity that we’ve managed to play our part in reaching an incredible £1 million. And that money will keep being re-lent and re-lent, translating into many millions of pounds worth of loans over the coming years.”

Head of Lendwithcare, Tracey Horner, added: “Through Edithmae, Rotary have helped change the lives of entrepreneurs around the world. We’re grateful to every Rotary member who lends their time and energy to raise funds to lend to people trying to earn a living in some of the most challenging environments in the world. It really is life-changing for the people we work with, and we want to extend our huge thanks to Rotary Great Britain and Ireland, and everyone at Nantwich Rotary Club.”

Anyone can make a loan through Lendwithcare, or buy a Lendwithcare voucher as a Christmas gift. Loans start from £15 and will typically be paid back over 6-12 months. Follow Nantwich Rotary Club’s footsteps and visit www.lendwithcare.org to make a loan and change a life.