WIN holds fair-BEST offers loans

As part of women’s week the Women’s Issues Network of Belize, WIN, is holding its second annual fair this Saturday. Women’s group from every district will participate. There will be displays, demonstrations, cultural and food sales. However, this year women are also being invited to check out loans available through a Micro Enterprise Credit Scheme administered by BEST, the Belize Enterprise For Sustainable Technology.

Linda Bautista, BEST

“Presently we are promoting a programme that gives small business loans to people. We have 1.76 million dollars to give away during the course of a two-year period. 50% of these funds must be given to women. Therefore this opportunity that WIN Belize has given to us to be a part of this fair is excellent because we are able to promote our clients that we have now. We’ll have a seamstress there, we we’ll have a basket maker we’ll have short crops, we’ll have fast foods and so. They will be selling their items as well as my staff will be there, present with application forms for those who are interested and will also have brochures and other informational items that they can get in order to know about this programme to learn about it and so on.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

“So you will be taking applications at the fair?”

Linda Bautista

“Yes.”

Jacqueline Woods

“So what should these women take in order to apply for this loan?”

Linda Bautista

“Well basically what they can do just for Saturday is come in with an identification, just sit down with us we will go through name, address, basic information and anything they need to get. Thereafter we can give them the information they can go and get it but just for the application, purposes just an identification.”

The fair runs from 10:00am until 4:00 in the evening at the Constitution Park this Saturday.