Uma

Microfinance Client Since: 2000
Age: 29; married
Children: Two sons, 10 and 12 years old
Location: Karnataka, India
Loan History: 6th loan; Rs $385
Business: Tailor

To supplement her family's income, Uma took out a microcredit loan, bought a sewing machine and opened her tailor shop. She currently makes about $35/month in profit from her business and is able to send her children to a good school. Uma was so inspired by how her life had changed, she now leads a women's empowerment group and helps women work together on income generating activities and save as a group.

Uma and her husband have purchased a larger home and she hopes to turn her old house into a sewing school. She says, "For the future, I have no fears. Only hope."

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