Micro-Entrepreneur from Chinese Partner MFI Wins at the 2010 International Microfinance Awards!

August 6, 2010

Laureates of the International Microfinance Awards hosted by PlaNet Finance were announced yesterday! The award ceremony will take place in December 2010 and invites all laureates to Paris, France to attend the ceremony.

Awards are categorized into six categories: 1) Farming, 2) Education, 3) Environment, 4) New Technology, 5) Health and 6) Social Impact. Selection criteria took into account the micro-entrepreneurs’ personal qualities, financial aspects, social aspects and impact in the award category.

PlaNet Finance China submitted three applications from partner MFI Ningxia Yanchi County Association for the Advancement of Women (Ningxia CEPA). Ningxia CEPA is an independent NGO operating in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of northern China bordering Gansu province and home to the Hui people, one of the recognized ethnic minorities in China. Ningxia CEPA’s mission is “to solve the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region’s poverty, environmental and gender inequality problems”. PlaNet Finance China has been working with Ningxia CEPA since 2006 in various programs ranging from providing mobile handsets to villagers in collaboration with Qualcomm to providing field interns from abroad.

Of the three applicants, Shulian Wang (汪淑莲) was chosen for the category of Social Impact. The Social Impact category is awarded to the micro-entrepreneur who has the best social impact on his/her community (for example improvement of quality of life, offer of job or services that were non-existent etc.). Shulian has been borrowing since 2000 with loans ranging from RMB 1,000 to RMB 20,000 (EUR 115 – 2,315). She has been using her loans towards the growth of a plaster processing plant which she built up from scratch on her own. Shulian continually gives back to her community and understands the value of community-based development. Since she started her plant, Wang has added employment opportunities to her fellow villagers and directly contributes to the development of infrastructure to the area.

Wang Shulian Attending a Women's Training

Above: Wang Shulian (far right) attending a Women's Training Session with her women's group

Other category laureates include:

  • Farming: Maria Celina Pina Horta from Cape Verde for her business in selling agricultural products. Maria is a member of the ASDIS.
  • Education: Faida Bakaji Tshumu from Israel for her work at a nursery for African refugee children. Faida is a member of Microfy.
  • Environment: Lirenza Cardenas Chavez from Peru for her work in ecological farming and reforestation. Lirenza is a member of Movimento Manuela Ramos / Unidad de microfinanzas “Credimujer”.
  • New Technology: Rani Khairy Mohamed Amin from Egypt for his managing a computer maintenance center and his computer accessories store. Rani is a member of SME project of the Alexandria Business Association.
  • Health: Salimata Doumbia of Mali for her work selling traditional medicine. Salimata is a member of Miselini.

PlaNet Finance China is proud of all the applicants and applauds Shulian Wang for her outstanding efforts in community development. We would also like to congratulate all the other laureates and applaud their work in their respective industries. We look forward to the upcoming awards ceremony!