On 28 April 2010, a 38-year-old Beirut, Lebanon man became the recipient of the first Bahoudii Crown Trust Microloan for 2010.

Yussef, (For privacy and security reasons, our Field Partner has requested that his last name remain undisclosed) a 38-year-old married man with five children is in charge of an 18-year-old butchery business selling meats and poultry.

Yussef is well known and has an established customer base, and is known for the quality of his meat products and his competitive prices.

Yussef's request of this loan from Al Majmoua is so that he may purchase meat and chicken and increase his working capital.

Youssef has an excellent credit history and was recently approved for his fourth loan. He has repaid his previous loans on time and these enabled Yussef to increase his sales by offering a wider variety of products to his clients.

This MicroLoan was made under our agreement with www.kiva.org and has been disbursed through Al Majmoua - the Lebanese Association for Development, an independent, apolitical, not-for-profit Lebanese NGO (Non Governmental Organization) that has been one of the leading microcredit institutions in Lebanon, since 1994.

To ensure a stable and regular source of income for their families, micro-entrepreneurs are keen to invest in and develop sustainable businesses. With limited assets and no guarantees, they find difficulties accessing commercial banks services. They turn to Al Majmoua, a reliable partner whose goal to improve the quality of life of the most disadvantaged, regardless of their religion, nationality, gender or political affiliation by providing them with the appropriate financial and non-financial tools to make their way out of poverty.

Al Majmoua believes that development should follow a holistic approach. Micro-credit alone may not be sufficient to sustain a small business. Non financial services, particularly Business Development Services, play a complementary role in improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable entrepreneurs. Al Majmoua provides business management and financial education training, vocational training, marketing support, and networking and is active across Lebanon, including the Palestinian Camps, through a network of 10 offices. The branches allow Al Majmoua to be present in the communities it serves and remain tuned in to the particular needs of the micro-entrepreneurs. Al Majmoua’s team is made of 90 highly motivated, skilled, dedicated full-time staff. Loan officers are recruited from the local community since social networks and an extensive knowledge of respective areas of operation are essential in this work.