So far, six families have benefitted from our Drive for Change programme, which through Micro Finance schemes, gives people in India and Pakistan a loan to buy a car and start their own Uber, Ola or Careem taxi businesses. This allows self-sustainability and a consistent income.
Find out more about how you can support and donate towards the Drive for Change programme here.
One of our first recipients of this project last year was Ali, who lives in Mumbai with his wife, daughter and two sons. He had previously his own footwear manufacturing business, which he had to close down in 2015. Forced to use all of his savings to pay off his debts, he was left with nothing to continue to support his family. In order to provide for his family, Ali started working as an Ola cab driver, driving someone else’s car. He continued doing this for a whole year, but the income from just being a driver was not enough and caused him to be under a lot of pressure and affected his family life.
In 2016, Ali applied for our Drive for Change programme, where he was given a loan to buy a car and start his own Ola business. Now, his income after expenses, including the repayment of the loan, is over Rs. 20,000! He is now able to provide for his family and reduce the pressure on himself. The steady income has meant he doesn’t need to worry about being unable to survive financially and can spend more time with his family and has started volunteering in the community. He was also awarded Ola Partner of the Year 2016!
Your donations to our Drive for Change project allow Ali, and so many others like him, to have a consistent income which can support their families and lift themselves out of poverty.
So far, thanks to your generous donations, we have managed to help 6 families so far, 5 in Mumbai and 1 in Ahmedabad. These two cities are amongst the biggest and most largely populated in India where unemployment, particularly amongst youth, is a serious issue. Owning their own businesses allows people to have that job security, and once they have paid off the loan for the car, they can continue to expand their income, while the repaid loan allows the scheme to go on and support another family.
Following on from a successful campaign in India, we are now providing the same opportunity for people in Pakistan. To donate to this project, please click here.
