1. www.microaid.org
MICROAID PROJECTS
A Brief Introduction
2011
Photo caption: Fransiska (with thumbs up), Katharina, Bibiana, Kartini and Ester Ngole, five of the seven families from Wailiti village, Indonesia
in their cabbage vegetable garden. Delighted with their new home enterprise sponsored by MicroAid donors.
2. What is MicroAid Projects?
MicroAid Projects is a development charity that reaches out to poor families via the internet with simple training in
profitable family enterprise.
Our Vision:
Families helping to reduce poverty together.
MicroAid's Mission:
Empower poor families to eradicate poverty from
their lives through family enterprise.
MicroAid's Goals:
1. Establish local MicroAid community facilitation
partners (CFPs) in poor areas
2. CFPs connect low income families online to
MicroAid grants for practical, family enterprise,
skills training.
3. Increase total family income of poor families
particularly through women's enterprise to
above $2 per family member per day sustainably,
without further intervention.
MicroAid's work:
More than 800 poor families from 6 developing
countries including Indonesia, India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Uganda and Kenya have participated
in MicroAid Projects through direct donations
family to family across the world.
MicroAid Projects is a family social network
started in 1998 and registered as a charity in
2008 with UK Registered Charity Number
1125206.
Web : www.microaid.org
Email : admin@microaid.org
Margaret learning to make woven fabric for better more saleable designs sponsored by MicroAid donors
3. How MicroAid Projects Work
Families meet in a small group to discuss with the MicroAid Community Facilitation Partner
(CFP) who facilitates a village meeting to discover their needs and propose simple livelihoods
learning activities in a small micro-project.
When the micro-project activities (including budget and beneficiary names) have been agreed
upon, a micro project is written up and agreed by all
The CFP then uploads the micro project proposal onto the MicroAid Projects web site at
www.microaid.org
The micro project is approved on the MicroAid Projects web site by MicroAid administration
office in Jakarta Indonesia
Donors view the micro projects and the ideas low income families have to eradicate poverty
from their lives. You choose and fund the micro projects you like best.
Within about two weeks of donations being received, the CFP, together with the local family,
will implement the micro project you supported.
On completion, families and CFPs make a report together that includes photos, videos and
beneficiary comments. The CFP uploads the report on the MicroAid Projects’ website.
MicroAid administrators then informs donors by email that their MicroAid Project report is
available online.Donors have the opportunity to ask questions, offer feedback and suggestions
for the future.
4. Where MicroAid Projects work
In 2011, MicroAid Projects has been operating in 6 countries as follows:
INDONESIA
MicroAid Projects has a management office in Depok, a growing city in West Java province, Indonesia. In the office
there is 3 management staff who works every day to manage the web site, micro-projects, project reports,
photographs and videos as well as creating campaigns and newsletters for MicroAid Projects. In Indonesia there are
13 Community Facilitation Partners (CFP), many of whom have been with MicroAid Projects since 2000. There are
over 650 low income families who have implemented micro-projects funded by MicroAid Projects donors. The
families are scattered across 6 provinces including DKI Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, East Nusa Tenggara,
Southeast Sulawesi and Aceh. The types of micro-projects activity that low income families often propose in
Indonesia are: Women’s home enterprise activities, pilot testing New Local products, Food Processing Training,
Handicrafts production for market demand, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock enterprises.
INDIA
Since 2006, there are two CFPs in India who have joined MicroAid Projects. They are located in the provinces of
Tamil Nadu and Howra and have been carrying out micro-projects with 70 low income families. There are still some
new CFP is in the registration process to join the MicroAid Projects. Until now, many types of activities proposed by
the families in India are: Women's Activities such as sewing practical and learn to sell vegetables, Food Processing
Trainings and Agriculture. They have carried out several micro-projects funded by MicroAid Projects donors and are
active in making micro-project proposals and reports.
5. PAKISTAN
In Pakistan, MicroAid Projects is in two provinces, Sahiwal province and the Punjab. In this country there are two
CFPs who have joined MicroAid Projects since 2007 and they have 100 poor families who have registered and are
implementing micro-projects funded by MicroAid Projects donors. In Pakistan, many poor families who have
proposed micro-projects such as: Weaving reeds and carpets, sewing clothes and learnt new design for shoes.
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh is another poor Asian country that has implemented MicroAid Projects in Gaibandha Province. At the
beginning of the registration process, a CFP in Bangladesh who wanted to join the MicroAid Projects experienced a
few problems because the authorization process in Bangladesh did not allow connections with international
institutions such as MicroAid Projects. But, after several weeks of studying the vision and mission of MicroAid
Projects by the Bangladeshi government, they allowed the CFP to join and receive funds with MicroAid Projects. In
this country also the implementation of micro projects funded by MicroAid Projects has had visits by top state
officials to monitor and see how MicroAid Projects are implemented. There are about 100 poor families who have
registered and have implemented micro-projects funded by donors MicroAid Projects. In Bangladesh, many poor
families who have proposed micro-projects such as: Sewing practical, duck livestock, bee cultivation, fish trap, herbal
tea and training for face make-up.
KENYA
Kenya is an African country that has been implementing micro-projects funded by MicroAid Projects donors. Since
2008 two CFP in Kenya have joined and have more than 100 registered poor families. Our CFPs in Kenya are very
enthusiastic about implementing micro-projects, as evidenced by the number of family members are involved in
micro-project registration even though their villages are not enrolled in a local CFP. But because they want to know
and want to have a new skill, they come from outside villages to get involved directly with MicroAid Projects
activities. MicroAid Projects is in Kitale province and many poor families there who suggested the type of activities
such as: Organic farming, make yoghurt and trying out a simple technology save energy
UGANDA
In Uganda, MicroAid Projects is in Kampala province. There is 1 CFP and approximately 50 poor families who have
registered and implementing micro-projects which funded by MicroAid Projects donors. In this state the type of
activities that are often suggested by the poor families is Livestock Husbandry activities, such as raising pigs.
6. Case Study Micro-Project Reports
More than 800 poor families from 6 developing countries including Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda
and Kenya have participated in MicroAid Projects
7 families and 3 women groups find success with a community vegetable garden
Story:
The vegetable garden in Wailiti Village, Indonesia is a family-run farm by seven
families who received training to create a community vegetable garden funded by
MicroAid Projects’ donors. The vegetable garden is currently only about 400 square
meters. The women’s group has expansion planned later, as proceeds from the sale of
vegetables from the first harvest start coming in.
In June 2011 the families harvested cabbages for the first time and managed to sell
340 cabbages. The selling price per cabbage was 40p so the money earn came to £136.
The money was then divided between seven families, so that every family received
£19. Harvesting the cabbages is carried out every 4 weeks. Read more
23 kids back to school
Story:
MicroAid Projects to learn business skills has given big opportunities for groups of poor
families in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda. Through
learning new skills their incomes have been increased so they can finance and send all
their children to school sustainably.
Today, Thomas and four of his children help Fransiska after school in the watering and
clearing the family's garden in East Nusa Tengara, Indonesia with pride. They are very
grateful to MicroAid donors who have given them the opportunity to learn new skills
and how to make money from a vegetable garden so that they can find a way to
eradicate their poverty themselves. Read more
2 latrines and 1 new home have renovated
Story:
After finishing her training, 15 days later Akhter received some fabric and sewing
equipment obtained from the MicroAid Projects sewing training. Then Akhter began
practicing on her own making women's clothes. Akhter was very diligent and now she
has made a lot of clothes that are sold to order to her friends. The MicroAid CFP SJOK
team helped Akhter by giving her lower-priced fabric and helping with the marketing
of the clothes in the kiosk in her village and also checking up regularly on her progress.
In the startup period, Akhter obtained a net income of US$0.40 cents per piece of
cloth. Currently, she has managed to increase sales and earn income to US 1 Dollar per
piece of cloth. Akhter also has helped improve the welfare of her family by making a
better and permanent family latrine. Now she is not dependent on money from her parents. Jhony Akhter thinks that after six
months, she will be able to buy a new sewing machine and expand her business. Read more
6 young men started new business
Story:
My name is Hendrawanto. I am 23 years old. Before the training to learn to make silver
jewelry (see micro project PUSP1303), I initially was just a public vehicle’s driver in
Cilebut village, West Java, Indonesia and has no fixed income. Sometimes in a day I
only earn Rp 10,000 (USD $1) and sometimes losing money because no passenger to
pay the rent I pay for the mini bus and fuel.
This is certainly not sufficient for the needs of my household and school fees of my
children. I decided to find another better livelihood. In January 2010 with two friends, I
followed the training activities to make silver jewelry which was funded by MicroAid
Projects. My father was pleased that through this training, I became aware that
7. making silver jewelry is not too difficult. After studying for a month with friends and was encouraged by my own father, now I
can help my father run the family business making silver jewelry. My father was a silversmith working from home on casual
orders. I now already have two staff who is my friend who trained with me. Now we are working together in family enterprise
and my livelihood has improved. Read more
A new technology has launched – laundry soap from potatoes
Story:
MicroAid CFP Community Empowerment Programme Sustainable Development
(COSDEP) is a non governmental organization working in Kenya. COSDEP helps poor
families learn new livelihoods skills that helps these women raise income for their
families.A family group in Kamung'ang'a village in Kenya, has learnt to make soap
from potatoes. They also use other agricultural products such as tomatoes to make
tomato jam and milk to make yogurt.
A MicroAid micro-project was carried out in May 2010, by introducing a simple new
technology to make laundry soap made from potatoes readily available in their
village. Besides food, potatoes can be processed into soap. The tomatoes are also
numerous in the village which also made jam. Read more
A new approach, to kill pests without killing ecology
Story:
Tovan Mahendra - a MicroAid Projects Organic Entrepreneur and CFP in Aceh Indonesia, has
introduced new technologies that are environmentally friendly and do not damage the natural
ecology. The result of the current trial has been used by many neighbouring farmers' village.
Organic liquid fertilizer and pesticide produces organic produce free from harmful chemical
additives.
With products that are introduced by Tovan, many farmers can cultivate paddy rice crops and
can prevent any future plant pests without killing the pest. Yes it’s true, do not kill the pests,
ward them off as they are part of mother nature’s natural eco system, which we destroy at our
peril. Read more
Learning new skills has also helped:
A family business making soy milk and provided income for 11 families of other neighbors
30 young victims of natural disasters have the skills to make handicrafts from recycled paper
5 families who managed to take advantage of discarded chicken feet as a highly nutritious food and sold
them in the local market
Provide new skills and knowledge to 2 local facilitators so they can make the village library that used by 150
children victims of natural disasters. See a video documentation
3 women who could make traditional clothing for dolls and help augment the family income for the 5 other
neighbors
What are our future aims and objectives?
Provide an opportunity for many poor families to have the new skills so they can increase incomes and
educate their children
Create and develop mobile applications that connect local buying agents to their producers at the bottom of
the pyramid.
Livelihoods WIKI of simple steps to creating profitable livelihoods connections.
8. Fact Sheet
MicroAid is a family social network started in 1998 and registered as a charity in 2008 with UK Registered
Charity Number: 1125206
• MicroAid delivers learning packages to low income families via local community facilitation partners (CFPs)
and the Internet and uses many social networks
• MicroAid was awarded Charity of the Month by Socialize Your Cause in April 2010
MicroAid was the world's first direct online micro-grant platform.
MicroAid Projects was co-founded by Richard and Toby Beresford. Previously, MicroAid Projects Chairman
and Co-Founder Richard was an UN Poverty Eradication and micro-finance consultant and Toby was an ICT
consultant and innovator in social networking
The minimum amount that can be granted to a low income family on MicroAid Projects is as little as $10.
PayPal and Just Giving provides MicroAid Projects with payment processing
MailChimp and Vertical Response (e-newsletter supplier) provides MicroAid Projects with free of charge for
distributing the monthly newsletter and articles. Enroll for Newsletter
MicroAid Projects partners with local NGOs and microfinance institutions, as Community Facilitation
Partners (CFPs) in six developing countries.
MicroAid receives no organizational sponsorship or Government grants. It is entirely funded by individual
family donors.
Anyone with an email address can create a MicroAid Projects Donor Account and make a pledge of what
contribution to eradicating poverty they would like to using a credit card or PayPal account.
MicroAid Projects is headquartered in Jakarta (Indonesia) and London (UK) and currently employs 3 full-time
staff members
MicroAid Projects can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Flickr, Picasa Web and YouTube
November 2011
MicroAid Projects Team