You are invited! If you are or plan to be in Boston on 10/25, please attend!

Save the Date: October 25th Boston Area FUNdraiser

If you'd like to attend, contact us at Info@worldclass-ghana.org





2012 "Summer Fun" Raffle Winners

1st prize-Lee Lustberg OR

2nd prize-Lea Aeschliman NH

3rd prize-Jim Labrie NH

4th prize-Al Stichter NJ

5th prize-Pat Schnatterly VA

Congratulations to our winners and thank you very much to all who bought and sold tickets. We netted just over $6,000 which will go a long way in our efforts to provide access to clean water and sanitation in greater Amasaman.

Take some chances and help fund a new latrine for Amasaman

Where do you go when you first wake up in the morning? What if there were no place to "go"?
That's the reality for millions of the world's poorest people who lack access to sanitary facilities and the dignity and privacy that they provide.  Help make a small dent in that number.

Support World Class’s “Summer Fun” Raffle:

Prizes are LL Bean Gift Certificates

1st Prize: $400
2nd Prize: $200
3rd Prize: $100
4th and 5th Prizes: $50

Tickets: $10 each (6 for $50) Drawing: August 15th

Proceeds to fund a new latrine for Amasaman
                          
Email Info@WorldClass-Ghana.org for tickets and information ___________________________________

Newsletter: Spring 2012

In this issue:
  • Lumana Partnership
  • 5 Years of Microlending
  • Successful Clients
  • Shikpontele Well Completion
  • World Class “Summer Fun” Raffle

World Class Announces Partnership with Lumana

When, in late 2011, World Class learned that the Bank of Ghana had issued a new regulation establishing $40,000 as the minimum capital requirement for all microlenders operating in the country, the Board of World Class confronted a dilemma: how to raise sufficient funds both to comply with the regulation and to continue what has become our main focus- providing access to clean water and sanitation for the communities of greater Amasaman.

Learning that Lumana, a Seattle-based microlending entity with a record of excellence for its operations in Anloga, Ghana’s Eastern Region, was interested in expanding into the Ga West area where Amasaman is located, World Class approached Lumana as a potential partner. A period of intense deliberation and due diligence on the part of both organizations followed. The result: a partnership that provides World Class clients with uninterrupted access to credit and which frees World Class to devote itself exclusively to water and sanitation projects-a “win-win” arrangement for all concerned.

As of June 1st, Lumana will take over the World Class microlending operation. World Class staff members, Michael Neequaye and Rita Dzoagbe, will be employed by Lumana. Michael will also continue in his capacity as World Class Project Manager. The two organizations will share the office in Amasaman’s Area Council Building, generously made available by the local government.

We look forward to your continued support as we now devote ourselves exclusively to water and sanitation projects. However, if you also wish to continue to support the women of greater Amasaman with microloans, you may donate at: www.lumana.org  Please let us know if you would like to be included in Lumana’s mailing list.

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5 Years of Microlending: An Assessment

World Class began its loan program in 2007 with initial capital of $12,000 raised from donations. A second (and last) capital infusion of $5,000 was added in 2009. From its inception to the present, World Class made 716 loans. The average rate of repayment was 81%.-neither the best nor the worst repayment record for microlending organizations in Africa. Many clients used the program well and as designed. Others failed to repay their loans. Even they, however, did not use their loans frivolously, but for some family necessity. As we turn over our microlending operation to Lumana, we can be very proud of having helped 320 women in greater Amasaman. We wish Lumana every success as it builds upon the foundation established by the generosity and support of World Class members over these last 5 years.

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Profiles in Microlending Success

Beyond the statistics of microfinance are the individual clients themselves. Here we profile three of our most successful clients.



Beatrice Aboagye

Beatrice is a married 47 year-old resident of Amasaman who runs a building supply business on the town’s main street (very convenient for World Class’s occasional hardware needs). This mother of 1 boy and 2 girls in their teens has been a client since World Class’s inception with loans ranging from 50 to 300 cedis ($28 to $170 at the current rate of exchange). Beatrice says that her loans have helped to make her business more profitable and credits our orientation and business education seminars with giving her a greater awareness of the importance of bookkeeping and of discipline in the handling of money.

Sophia Effa

A resident of Shikpontele, 65 year-old Sophia Effa is married and has a daughter aged 30. Sophia retails foodstuffs- tomatoes, onions, peppers, carrots and other vegetables- from a stall at her home. A long-time World Class client, her loans have ranged in size from the initial 50 to 300 cedis. Sophia says that her loans have enabled her to venture into another related business-the wholesaling of vegetables to other retailers. She, too, states that World Class’s business education has helped her to better understand the relationship of good management to profit. Sophia is a recognized leader in Shikpontele and a member of the local water committee in which capacity her business acumen will also be useful.



Rose Adjei

Rose Adjei is a real entrepreneur. She owns a dress-making business and employs 15 apprentices. Pictured here behind a sewing machine and surrounded by patterns, Rose aged 43, is married and the mother of a boy aged 10 and of a girl aged 12. A resident of Sapeiman, Rose has been a client for 5 years with loans ranging from 50 to 420 cedis ($240). Her loans have helped with cash flow and have enabled her to expand her business to include the retailing of products used in dressmaking.

World Class is proud of these women and very pleased that our partnership with Lumana will afford them uninterrupted access to credit as well as continuing business education.

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World Class Well Completed in Shikpontele

The new well is now a reality in Shikpontele and the community is very pleased. They have taken the initiative through their water committee to apply for a dedicated electric meter for the well’s pump. Until the power company provides it, the pump is being served by power from a nearby house.

Now water is clean and affordable to Shikpontele’s residents. Thanks to all our donors who made this possible.



 

A resident fills her containers at the new well



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World Class’s “Summer Fun” Raffle

Prizes are LL Bean Gift Certificates

1st Prize: $400

2nd Prize: $200

3rd Prize: $100

4th and 5th Prizes: $50

Tickets: $10 each (6 for $50) Drawing: August 15th

Proceeds to fund a new latrine for Amasaman

                          

Email Info@WorldClass-Ghana.org for tickets and information ___________________________________

Nothing happens without you! Please support our work.

•  Make a donation
• By mail:  World Class    PO Box 325   La Grangeville, NY 12540
• Via PayPal* on our website: www.worldclass-ghana.org    (*Purchase of raffle tickets via PayPal is against its policy. Purchase by mail only.)

• Sell/Buy some tickets in our summer raffle: a good cause, great prizes, 5 chances to win! We hope you will sell some tickets to friends and family when you see them and to your email and facebook friends and help make this a big success.  Email for tickets and information: Info@WorldClass-Ghana.org

• Save the date: October 25th     An evening of FUNdraising at the lovely home of Debbie and Vasili Raptopoulos in Brookline, MA (details to be announced)