Padmaja Kaja

Microfinance Client Since: 1999
Age: 38 years, married
Children: Two daughters, one son
Hometown: Shivaram Nagar, India
Current loan: Second loan, $280
Business: Seamstress, making handbags

Like many families in India, Padmaja's family was caught in a cycle of debt with usurious moneylenders. Thanks to a reasonably priced microcredit loan, Padmaja and her family were able to get out of debt. With her following micro-loans, Padmaja bought higher quality material and the bags are selling better than ever. Currently, Padmaja and her husband feel happy with their business and earn enough to send their three children to a good school.

We at Shabby Apple Dresses love to help women dress but are also commited to helping women live as well.  Thus we are supporting the fight against global poverty by partnering with Unitus-a non-profit organization that accelerates access to life-changing financial services for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net dress sales to support work in India (where Shabby Apple Dresses sources many of its dresses the textiles used to manufacture its dresses).  In addition, each Shabby Apple Dresses customer has the opportunity to donote an extra five dollars to Unitus every time she buys a dress. Shabby Apple Dresses and Unitus are involved with 10 of India's most promising microfinance organizations that provide financial services to more than 1.6 million hard-working women and their families.

By buying Shabby Apple dresses, you're helping change the lives of women around the world like Beebijaan. Shabby Apple Dresses is sharing 5% of its profits with Unitus, an organization working to bring life-changing micro-loans to thousands more of the world's working poor. Purchase a dress to help or learn more at www.shabbyapple.com/helpwomenworldwide