The Alliance for Christians in Development (ACID) Trust, a non-governmental development organization based in Uganda which, among other projects, provides microfinance services to rural women and youth, will be extending micro loans to parents who cannot afford to pay their children’s school fees. Typically, fees cost about USD 35 per term. A September 2006 report (pg 4) by Save the Children indicated that 1.1 million primary-aged children in Uganda are out of school, the majority because they cannot afford uniforms, books, and basic supplies. Under ACID Trust’s program, the plan is that parents will borrow from the trust interest-free, invest the money to make a profit, pay back the loan and save the remainder to put toward their children’s education. Funds are not only available to parents, but to children–specifically the large population of orphans in the country.
ACID began as an HIV/AIDS NGO over 20 years ago but transformed into a micro credit provider under the stewardship of Chief Director and founder Pastor Aaron Siribaleka. ACID’s development projects now include two savings bureaus–the Education Savings Bureau and the Medical Savings Bureau, an agricultural production program, a housing project, a savings and credit venture and the newly-established computer development centers. According to Mr. Siribaleka, ACID has branches in seven countries: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Tanzania and the United States. At this time, no financial information is available for either the Alliance for Christians in Development or the US chapter, known as American Christians in Development.
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David Satterthwaite
(Visit David's Website)
David brings 10 years of experience in
microfinance management, social
entrepreneurship, non-profit
management/fund-raising and microfinance
investment research.
David is the Chairman and President of
Prisma Microfinance, Inc., a retail
“microbank” operating in Central America.
He is also Chief Editor of
MicroCapital.org, a news and information
service for the microfinance community and
its investors. Each month,
MicroCapital.org publishes the
MicroCapital Monitor, the leading industry
newspaper.
David writes and speaks frequently on
microfinance. He has been a quest speaker
at many events, including: Microcredit
Summit 5+: Panel on Private Investment,
Milken Institute Global Conference, United
Nations Year of Microcredit Symposium for
Wall Street, Chicago Conference on
Microfinance, Harvard Social Enterprise
Conference, Dartmouth’s Business
Sustainability Conference, Wharton’s
Conference on Social Entrepreneurship,
Stanford’s Social Enterprise Club,
Columbia’s Social Enterprise Program and
the Net Impact Annual Conference. Through
his work with Prisma and MicroCapital, he
has been featured or quoted in The Wall
Street Journal, the Boston Globe, “All
Things Considered,” Reuters and
SocialFunds.com. David has been
recognized with the Compaq Computer
Corporation Leadership Award, the City
Year Inspiring Leader Award and the
National Social Venture Business Plan
Competition award for Best Social Impact
Analysis.
David has supported many non-profit and
for-profit social enterprises in different
capacities, including Access Technology
Learning Center, Agora Partnerships,
Bridges to Business, City Year, Fonkoze,
Kiva and National Social Venture
Competition.
David holds a B.A. with Honors in
Political Science from Haverford College.
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