first cell group meetings

Today was an exciting day for Team Seed Effect: SUDAN! Read Heather’s report below on the first Cell Group meetings:

“Today was yet another first for Team Seed Effect: SUDAN as we held our first Cell Group meetings for the our clients in the villages of Wudu and Mere. All of the women paid on time and many of them were eager to repay even before the first meeting! It’s clear that these hard-working women are ready to meet and work together as a group to push one another forward to improve their families and their community. They were all so excited to receive their Seed Effect T-shirts as well and put them on immediately. Obviously they are proud to represent Seed Effect!

What a humbling and exciting day for our staff! It is such an honor to see that our first clients are so proud to be Seed Effect members, and such a blessing to catch a glimpse of the future, as women will be empowered to change and improve their lives and the lives of their families through access to small loans and education.” - Heather Sumner, Program Development Supervisor

In the photo above, the "Mondu Busan" (meaning "Waiting for Blessing") Cell Group Chairperson and Treasurer work with Alia, our SE Loan Officer to collect and count the loan repayments during the first meeting.

seed effect loan day!

Today, Seed Effect disbursed our first loans to a group of 19 Sudanese women. These seed loans will empower these women to provide for their family in ways that they otherwise would be unable to. We hope you'll join us in celebrating this exciting day and in praying for these women.

Click below to watch the video of our first loan disbursement!

Seed Effect Loan Day on You Tube!

Note to our viewers: In true African form, our first client was nursing her little one during the loan disbursement... common sight here, yet sometimes shocking to our Western supporters!

thomas bell, SE managing director

Thomas Bell, Managing Director of Seed Effect: SUDAN discussing microfinance and the impact that our Seed Loan Program will have on the community of Kajo Keji County, South Sudan.

carol discussing Seed Effect's loan applicants

Watch Carol Ziegler, Business Consultant and Seed Effect Volunteer talk about the Sudanese women attending Seed Effect's business training.

seed effect loan orientation seminar

Hello Seed Effecters! As you know, this week Team Seed Effect is in Kajo Keji, South Sudan hosting our first Loan Orientation Seminar for a group of 20 women. After months of research, training, and laying the foundation for our Seed Loan Program, we are less than a week away from issuing our first loans and could not be more excited to introduce you to this amazing group of women in just a few days! For now, here are some details about the women, their families, and their businesses...

Out of the 20 women in attendance, only five can read and write and two have actually received no formal education whatsoever.

There are 6 types of businesses represented in this group including:

• “Food stuff” Vendor (onions, beans, vegetables)
• Hotel/restaurant
• Fish Vendor
• Tailoring shop
• Bakery
• Import food and clothing store

Collectively, these women have over 60 children that they are supporting with their small businesses and are eager to earn a larger income to better provide for their families!

That’s all of the details I’ll share for now, but continue to check back for more updates as we near Loan Day!

Thanks again for your prayers and support. For more up-to-date posts on our progress, check us out on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

heather discussing Team Seed Effect: SUDAN

Watch Heather Sumner, Program Development Supervisor, talk about Team Seed Effect: SUDAN and the preparation for our Seed Loan Program launch...