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TPAF extends small loans to rural communities that either do not qualify, or do not have easy access to traditional bank loans.
Loans enable rural farmers to invest in alternative sources of income, buy needed equipment, make livestock purchases, improve their general livelihood.
Microcredit promotes an entrepreneurial spirit, enabling the borrowers to be the best judge of how to use credit to improve their livelihood.
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Grandmother (a loan recipient in our microfinance program) and granddaughter, whose homework we interrupted with our visit.
A weaver, who took a full loan of US$120 for a year. Work never stops, constantly spinning more wool.
Mother, who took a US$25 loan, afraid of borrowing more, and daughter, who is 12 and stopped school last year when she got sick. Her parents are currently arguing about whether they can afford to send her back to school.
A shop owner in the village of Shigeshui. Used a second loan of US$100 to set up and buy supplies for his store. His first loan of US$100 went into buying a tractor engine. He says he now earns US$160 per month renting out his tractor to other villagers.
A weaver and loan recipient. With her profits she fixed her house (although the rain still came in when we were there) and has sent her three children to school (probably for three years each).
Lhoka microfinance training. "...and I offered you 10 yuan...". The trainer is Kelsang, who runs the microfinance program, a wonderfully warm, deeply knowledgeable man, and a great story-teller (even through an interpreter!).
Lhakpa Tsering translates how to use a balance sheet to record your monthly charges and credits. Most groups have at least one woman who can read, so she will help the rest in the future.
"Signing" for new loans with a red fingerprint.
Repayment time. Lhakpa checks for counterfeit money, which the traders bring into unsuspecting nomad communities each year