A million dollar for small enterprises in Gaza
Micro Credit Programme is considered one of the most vital programmes that are carried out by Islamic Relief. This is due to the fact that it directly alleviates the suffering of many people through establishing a permanent source of income. Many people highly appreciate this programme since it offers Halal way for people to receive soft loans (Qurrd Hasan), which are free-interest loans and benefit from Murabaha.
Soft loans help women and fresh graduates through offering free-interest loans. The other part of the programme is Murabaha. Murabaha helps people to establish projects or develop their existing projects. Hence, it is obviously noticed that Islamic Relief through Micro Credit Programme offers acceptable solutions in Islam. That is why the number of beneficiaries is increasing.
The main goal of this programme is developing the Palestinian economy. This is accomplished by achieving some objectives such as encouraging women in Palestine to participate in the economic development process, decreasing poverty percentage in the occupied Palestinian territories, creating job opportunities for unemployed people, supporting and promoting small businesses, sustaining the active enterprises and improving the social and economic situation of the Palestinian households.
Numbers talk in this regard. The budget of the programme for this year is more than one million USD. . For the first quarter of 2010 the number of direct beneficiaries reached 556. The number is divided as follows: 439 males and 117 females. 120 of them benefited from Soft Loans and 436 benefited from Murabaha.
Regarding the indirect beneficiaries, it is noticed that there are more than 1500 workers in the active micro-projects, 4000 family members and other dependents and about 100 local suppliers.
The success of this programme is reflected in the opinions of the beneficiaries. One of the beneficiaries said, "The project gives me the opportunity to have a good life". Rramzi Al Balawey, owner of curtains store said, " I am really thankful to Islamic Relief; now I can earn my daily needs and I have my own source of income."
Rasha Abu Harbeed is 24 female and has 3 children. She established her own beauty salon in 2007. She said, "Fortunately, one of my friends told me that Islamic Relief helps people to develop their small businesses". On February 2010, She received 8,000 NIS (2,000 USD), and bought new beauty materials and equipments. Rasha said, "I highly appreciate Islamic Relief for its help; my place became a new one; my assistants and I love our work.
