Sam Daley-Harris on Slumdog Millionaire

Feb 28, 2009 — Unlike the movie-goers in the theatre, who pinned their hopes for one chai wallah (tea seller) escaping the horrors of the slums of Mumbai, India, on the long-shot odds of his winning the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, we knew that right now, there is a tool that has helped not just one movie character but more than 100 million of the world’s poorest people actually begin to escape the worst devastations of poverty. That opportunity is not a game show, but microcredit – small loans to start or expand businesses such as selling tortillas or cellphone time to your neighbours. (full article)