“The Test of Poverty” follows two women living in extreme poverty in West Bengal, India, as they participate in Trickle Up’s program and work to change the effects that generations of poverty have had on their families’ lives. The film shows that addressing the needs of the ultra poor – those living on less than $1.25 day – involves more than just providing them with capital, and must be viewed through a wider lens. The film also captures the powerful effects that increased self-confidence and empowerment that come from participating in Trickle Up’s program have in helping women break the vicious cycle of extreme poverty.

As the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty approaches on October 17th, “The Test of Poverty” underscores the theme designated by the United Nations: “From Poverty to Decent Work: bridging the gap.” According to the UN, this day of observance comes at a time when people living in poverty are even more uncertain about employment stability, working conditions, training opportunities and the availability of social protection.

“The Test of Poverty” was directed by Gautam Bose and produced with support from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), which is spearheading a global effort to understand how safety nets, livelihoods, and microfinance can be sequenced to create pathways for the poorest to graduate out of extreme poverty.

Trickle Up takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of the ultra poor. The organization provides seed capital, training and savings support to kick-start microenterprises and create a savings habit that endures. The grants buy things like tools, seeds and fertilizer, and goats—assets that help build income and stability. The savings groups work like community banks; the members save money, make loans to each other, and pay interest that grows the group fund. In 2009 alone, Trickle Up served over 10,000 new participants. Each new or expanded enterprise impacts five lives, which means over 55,000 lives have been touched.

“The Test of Poverty” shows how Trickle Up helps the ultra poor holistically and with lasting results. Filmmaker Gautam Bose, who has been making films for over 25 years, directed “The Test of Poverty.” Based in Kolkata, India, Bose uses film to help people from diverse backgrounds communicate effectively with one another.

In addition to being launched on Trickle Up’s newly redesigned interactive website, “The Test of Poverty” will be distributed widely via online channels such as YouTube and other social and media sharing sites. Trickle Up will also submit the film to 2011 film festivals to more widely raise awareness of the needs of the ultra poor.

Here is the video:

About Trickle Up
Trickle Up empowers people living on less than $1.25 a day to take the first steps out of poverty, providing them with resources to build microenterprises for a better quality of life. In partnership with local agencies, Trickle Up provides business training and seed capital grants to launch or expand a microenterprise and savings support to build assets. Trickle Up works in five countries throughout Asia, West Africa and Central America.

Speaking of, Global Partnerships is recruiting travelers for our upcoming trip to Bolivia (April 30 to May 9). This is a phenomenal opportunity to travel with a small group to see one of the most fascinating countries in Latin America from the perspective of a micro-entrepreneur. Applications are due soon! Find out more on GP’s website.

Banking On Change from Pilgrim Films on Vimeo.

Poverty and Opportunity: Microfinance and People-Powered Development from Foster School of Business on Vimeo.

“Poverty and Opportunity: Microfinance and People-Powered Development”
Terry Provance, Executive Director, Oikocredit USA
October 15, 2009, University of Washington

SeaMo and UW’s Global Business Center hosted Terry Provance, the Executive Director of Oikocredit USA, one of the world’s largest microfinance investment vehicles. Provance addressed the grassroots approach to poverty alleviation known as microfinance, and how this development strategy establishes relationships of equity, rather than dependence.

Unitus, Inc. Announces Dr. Brigit Helms as Chief Executive Officer

New leader brings expertise, urgency to organization working to empower the world’s poor through microfinance

SEATTLE, 27 OCTOBER 2009 – International nonprofit Unitus, Inc. proudly announces their new Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Brigit Helms, whose career has been defined by trailblazing work to achieve poverty alleviation through the growth of microfinance.

“All of Unitus is thrilled to welcome Brigit and profit from her incredible depth of experience in microfinance,” said Unitus Board Chairman Joseph Grenny. “In her 25 years of work, she has been a pioneer in developing innovative private-sector solutions to address the severe global problems of financial exclusion and poverty.”

Helms comes to Unitus from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Jakarta, where she was the head of Advisory Services. She was responsible for developing an aggressive five-year country strategy to help 40 million Indonesians by facilitating $15 billion in investments. Immediately prior to joining the IFC, she spent 10 years with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) as a member of the organization’s management team.

She joins Unitus at a time when the field of microfinance faces some of its greatest challenges—and greatest opportunities.

“The challenge now is to explosively scale and increase access to the millions in need,” Helms said, citing the need for a new generation of bold and creative microfinance organizations ready to take the necessary risks to see basic financial services be accessible to the large numbers of people still living in poverty.

“Of all the organizations working in microfinance today, Unitus is the one I believe is uniquely well placed to achieve this ambitious goal,” she continued. “The diversity of backgrounds among the senior team allows Unitus to view longstanding development issues through a completely different lens.”

Included in the senior team will be Ed Bland, who will continue to serve as Unitus’s President and COO.

“The combination of Ed’s substantial private-sector experience and Brigit’s deep industry and strategic development acumen will enable Unitus to accelerate financial services to the millions still in need—faster and better than ever before,” commented Grenny.

“Brigit’s philosophies on microfinance mirror our own mission and approach to poverty’s most intractable problems,” added Bland. “We feel there is an entrepreneurial, risk-taking spirit in our organizational DNA, and Brigit shares those instincts, making her a great fit.”

In addition to her work with the IFC and CGAP, Brigit has spent time with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce. She is also the author of the book Access for All: Building Inclusive Financial Systems. She earned a Ph.D. in Development and Agricultural Economics from Stanford University, as well as master’s degrees from Stanford and Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. A Seattle native, Brigit will be joined in her homecoming by her husband and two children.

Press Contact:

Steve Schwartz

206.788.5672

sschwartz@unitus.com

About Unitus

Unitus, an international nonprofit organization, fights global poverty by accelerating the growth of microfinance—small loans and other financial tools for self-empowerment—where it is needed most. Unitus partners with young, high-potential microfinance institutions, helping them build capacity, attract capital, and unite with the greater partner network to achieve rapid, sustainable growth. In just seven years, Unitus has helped its partners serve more than 9 million families throughout India and Southeast Asia, East Africa, Mexico, and South America.

Unitus received Fast Company’s Social Capitalist award in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Unitus is a 501(c)3 with offices in Seattle, Washington, Bangalore, India, and Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, please visit www.unitus.com.