Summer 2008, No. 3 - United Methodist Men

Amity Foundation—Yunnan Province, ChinaAdvance #11151A“Amity... changedme, my life andthe attitudes ofall the women inthe village. Amityhelped us leavepoverty behind.”Xiao Jinqiu did not have food to eat, money to live onor a home of her own. She led a difficult life in herlittle village in southwest China. Everything changedfor her when the Amity Foundation offered her amicrocredit loan of 1,000 yuan, approximately $130.She used the loan to buy two pigs, five chickens anda large bunch of tea leaves. She began selling thetea leaves for a profit. She planted tea in an AmityFoundation plantation. After repaying the loan fromher profits, she borrowed another 2,000 yuan ($260)to expand her chicken- and pig-raising and used theprofits to buy yarn for weaving. She began weavingtote bags and clothes and eventually earned enough torepay the second loan. On top of that, both pigs had 12piglets, which she sold for an even better profit. Withthis money, she repaid some of her family’s debts.In a letter to Amity, Xiao wrote, “The implementationof microcredits gave me and all the women in thevillage more opportunities to talk to each other. Thetraining sessions did not only teach us techniquesbut, more importantly, they freed our thoughts,transformed our ideas, taught us how to managehousehold finances, changed our habits and improvedthe quality of our lives…. Amity … changed me, my lifeand the attitudes of all the women in the village. Amityhelped us leave poverty behind.”To learn more about The Advance and to give online to the project of your choice,go to www.advancinghope.orgOrder resources at www.umcgiving.org/advance or call toll free: (888) 346-3862.The Advance is a part of The General Board of Global Ministries.5455