When faced with tough economic times, accessory designer Nadia Halaseh turned to her hobby.
“I always had a passion for accessory design, but I never thought of it as a career,” the mother of four told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.
“My husband is retired and I wanted a better life for my children, so I decided to apply for a loan from the Microfund for Women (MFW) six years ago,” Halaseh added.
Thanks to the MFW loan, the 42-year-old managed to turn her passion into a profitable venture. With several subsequent loans, Halaseh now runs her own business designing and selling earrings, necklaces and souvenirs.
The entrepreneur, who showcases her accessories at Souk JARA in Jabal Amman every summer, said she has now built a name in the jewellery industry and has paid off all her loans.
Halaseh was among 200 women honoured yesterday by the MFW for their success in enhancing their living standards by starting small businesses.
“The goal of the fund is to create income for the underprivileged, especially women, across the Kingdom,” MFW Deputy General Manager Fatina Abu Okab told The Jordan Times yesterday, adding that the fund has managed to extend more than 295,000 loans amounting to JD99 million since its establishment 13 years ago.
“We now have around 50,000 beneficiaries, 96 per cent of them women,” she said, noting that MFW offers a diverse spectrum of financial services tailored to meet the needs of microbusiness owners.
“Our clients are those who do not have guarantees to apply for bank loans… we ask for simple guarantees and sometimes ask women to guarantee each other,” Abu Okab said, adding that the fund has succeeded in reaching women across the Kingdom.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, attended by Jordanian National Commission for Women Secretary General Asma Khader, a bazaar was held showcasing handicrafts, accessories and clothing made by fund beneficiaries.
Several microentrepreneur success stories were highlighted during the event, organised by public and private institutions at Al Hussein Cultural Centre.
With 19 branches across the Kingdom, MFW is a nonprofit microfinance institution that supports micro-entrepreneurs in Jordan, especially women, by providing them with financial and non-financial services, according to the fund.
Microfund helping women help themselves
When faced with tough economic times, accessory designer Nadia Halaseh turned to her hobby.
“I always had a passion for accessory design, but I never thought of it as a career,” the mother of four told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.
“My husband is retired and I wanted a better life for my children, so I decided to apply for a loan from the Microfund for Women (MFW) six years ago,” Halaseh added.
Thanks to the MFW loan, the 42-year-old managed to turn her passion into a profitable venture. With several subsequent loans, Halaseh now runs her own business designing and selling earrings, necklaces and souvenirs.
The entrepreneur, who showcases her accessories at Souk JARA in Jabal Amman every summer, said she has now built a name in the jewellery industry and has paid off all her loans.
Halaseh was among 200 women honoured yesterday by the MFW for their success in enhancing their living standards by starting small businesses.
“The goal of the fund is to create income for the underprivileged, especially women, across the Kingdom,” MFW Deputy General Manager Fatina Abu Okab told The Jordan Times yesterday, adding that the fund has managed to extend more than 295,000 loans amounting to JD99 million since its establishment 13 years ago.
“We now have around 50,000 beneficiaries, 96 per cent of them women,” she said, noting that MFW offers a diverse spectrum of financial services tailored to meet the needs of microbusiness owners.
“Our clients are those who do not have guarantees to apply for bank loans… we ask for simple guarantees and sometimes ask women to guarantee each other,” Abu Okab said, adding that the fund has succeeded in reaching women across the Kingdom.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, attended by Jordanian National Commission for Women Secretary General Asma Khader, a bazaar was held showcasing handicrafts, accessories and clothing made by fund beneficiaries.
Several microentrepreneur success stories were highlighted during the event, organised by public and private institutions at Al Hussein Cultural Centre.
With 19 branches across the Kingdom, MFW is a nonprofit microfinance institution that supports micro-entrepreneurs in Jordan, especially women, by providing them with financial and non-financial services, according to the fund.
Credit: Jordan Times, Amman