Empower Women with the “Learning Loan” Training Manual

The “Credit for Women” manual is a powerful resource designed to promote the economic and social empowerment of women entrepreneurs. Aimed at those with limited access to traditional bank loans, this manual equips women with essential skills to manage microcredit resources and build successful businesses. Whether working individually, with family, or within an association, women will find the participatory and practical approach of the manual invaluable—even for those with minimal formal education.

Key Objectives of the Learning Loan Manual:

  • Foster access to microcredit within a framework of solidarity economy.

  • Inspire the entrepreneurial spirit by providing fundamental knowledge for starting and growing a business.

  • Introduce basic principles of costing and pricing to ensure sustainable business practices.

  • Enhance the financial and managerial skills of women entrepreneurs, boosting the success of their enterprises and improving the welfare of their families and communities.

This manual is more than a guide—it’s a pathway to empowerment, enabling women to gain confidence, financial independence, and a brighter future. Thank you for purchasing the "Learning Loan Microfinance Manual." By doing so, you are directly supporting a movement that empowers women coffee producers worldwide. This manual represents the dedication of many individuals who believe in the power of microfinance to transform lives—women like those who, in 2003, expressed their dreams of working with dignity and creating better lives for their families.

Inspired by stories from women coffee producers across 25 countries and guided by the belief that women are a worthy investment, the Learning Loan project was born. Thanks to the efforts of Karen Cebreros, Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard, and the many dedicated contributors to this manual, the Learning Loan program now operates successfully in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Colombia—with a remarkable 100% payback rate.

We are proud to offer you this resource, knowing that it will help extend the impact of microfinance to even more women in coffee. Together, we are not just providing a handout, but a hand up.

 

Check your email after you purchase the manual.

You will receive an email from no-reply@givebutter.com.

The email subject line will be: ”Your receipt from IWCA | International Women's Coffee Alliance.”

This email will contain the link that will allow you to access and download the PDF manual.

Women in Coffee Entrepreneurs Microfinance Fund

Grow to Market: Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in pursuit of safe, nutritious, and sustainable food systems for all consumers

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Through Microfinance: The Impact of the
Learning Loan

When it comes to creating lasting change in communities, empowered women are at the center of it all. Microfinance programs like the Learning Loan are committed to creating that change by providing women with the confidence and resources that they need to break through the barriers, grow their businesses, and become leaders in their own right.

The Learning Loan is a unique program that offers small loans, ranging from $400 to $1,000, to women in rural areas. What sets this program apart is its focus on trust-based lending and financial education. Many of the women involved in the program lack access to traditional banking, and for them, these loans are not just about the money. They are about the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to build businesses that not only improve their lives but also strengthen their communities.

The impact that goes beyond financial success. These loans are helping women diversify their income, create stability for their families, and access healthcare and education. These are essential factors for long- term community development. The confidence women gain from managing their businesses often flows over into other areas of their lives, creating a ripple effect that lifts everyone around them.

One of the key benefits of microfinance is that it fosters resilience. Women are more likely to use loans to benefit their entire families and invest in the future, and they’re also more likely to repay their loans. This repayment not only sustains the program but empowers other women to take part, creating a cycle of opportunity and growth. This is about more than business; it’s about changing lives, breaking down barriers, and ensuring that women have the tools they need to succeed.

There is always room for more growth. The Women in Coffee Entrepreneurs Microfinance Fund is aiming to raise $250,000 to expand this program and make it accessible to even more women worldwide. By supporting programs like this, we can contribute to creating lasting change for women entrepreneurs everywhere. Let us support the Learning Loan and help women entrepreneurs continue to rise and lead. Every loan, every opportunity, is one step closer to a future where every woman’s success story is within reach.