Renowned author and journalist Sheila McLeod Arnopoulos uses her talent for investigative reporting to take us deep into the poorest villages in India. Yet, far from being passive victims of their circumstances, the women who live there have joined forces and are making astute use of microcredit to break the cycle of poverty.
“Well-documented, eminently readable and uplifting.” —Maya Khankhoje, Herizons Magazine
“A vivid and fascinating account of the struggles and achievements of remarkable women…” —Ann Diamond, Writer
“…A well-written and inspiring read perfect for any sustainable traveler interested in compelling stories of other people’s lives.” —Gap Adventures
“She writes of her intimate interactions with the women of India with warmth and optimism…” —Sarah Fletcher, Montreal Review of Books
“The women truly come to life… the traffic story in Hyderabad is really funny.” —Josh Freed, Montreal Gazette Columnist
“…includes striking accounts of Hindu and Muslim women working to avoid conflict… and a stay in a model organic farm in the Himalayas…” —The Literary Review of Canada
Microcredit consists of small loans offered in developing countries mostly to impoverished women, with no requirement for collateral, so that they can start small businesses.
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On the opening day of the 2011 Global Microcredit Summit in Valladolid Spain, this November the mood among 2000 delegates from over a hundred countries was sombre.
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A special pleasure for me at the conference was spending time with Nandini Azad, one of the current powerhouses in the Indian anti-poverty movement, who has distinguished herself for path-breaking grassroots development not only in India but also in several other countries.
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Despite the preponderance of men on podium of the microcredit summit, it was Muslim women from Pakistan, Tunisia, Lebanon, Sudan and Egypt, who offered some of the most inspiring leadership models at the sessions in Spain this year.
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