Pioneering new post-disaster microfinance charity launches peer-to-peer microloans in Burkina Faso
News provided by Kubaru on Friday 30th Aug 2013
Kubaru , a pioneering new UK microfinance charity aiming to help support entrepreneurship in post-disaster areas of the developing world launched a new partnership in with Action Grace Divine, Burkina Faso on 29 August 2013.
The Kubaru website enables individuals in the UK to directly loan small amounts of money to entrepreneurs of their choice in two locations: the Philippines, where locals are regularly hit by destructive typhoons; and Burkina Faso, whose people are suffering from the 2009 West African floods and the long term effects of the severe Sahel-wide food crisis. Entrepreneurs in these areas are using microfinance to start up and develop small businesses in sectors such as agriculture, transport and retail. The repayment of the loan can then be tracked online allowing lenders to follow the development of the business.
Kubaru aims to raise awareness of financial access in the aftermath of a natural or human disaster, and highlight the capacity of individuals to have a direct impact.
Stephen Hall, the Chair of Trustees at Kubaru, said:
“Kubaru is an exciting new charity which enables individuals to make a real impact on the lives of less fortunate people around the world. The website allows you to make a life changing loan to an entrepreneur and enables marginalised post-disaster communities to gain access to financial services”
Ben Warren, the 30 year old Kubaru founder, said:
“As the world’s first platform specialising in post-disaster microfinance, Kubaru aims to help the most marginalised individuals whose lives have been blighted by natural and man-made disasters. Over the coming years we will look to expand our reach and help communities in the immediate aftermath of disasters across the world”
The minimum loan amount through the site is £10 and lenders can register their interest and start making loans immediately.
Notes to Editors
Learn more about Kubaru at
Kubaru is a UK registered charity (1139934) established in January 2011 and based in London. Kubaru has been carefully established by a skilled team over the past three years and is fully compliant with UK charity law and regulations.
Our vision is to create a sustainable charity capable of materially increasing the supply of microfinance in the developing world, promoting entrepreneurship in post-disaster areas, and to engage a new audience in online microlending. The charity seeks to compliment traditional aid approaches in the aftermath of a disaster and help the local economy to grow.
Kubaru was established by Ben Warren and Stephen Hall. Ben holds an MSc in International Development and Security, has worked in the UK social investment sector since 2009 and currently works as a Social Investment Policy Adviser at the Cabinet Office. Stephen is a former banker and has established two successful businesses specialising in reducing financing and procurement costs for the UK public sector.
The charity’s trustees have substantial knowledge in software development, online marketing and microfinance. Ben, Steve and the other six members of the Kubaru team currently provide their time on a voluntary basis.
Kubaru is releasing a series of videos during the next months to showcase the new partnership.
If you would like more information about the launch or to schedule an interview with Kubaru, please contact Kubaru on info@kubaru.org
The Kubaru website enables individuals in the UK to directly loan small amounts of money to entrepreneurs of their choice in two locations: the Philippines, where locals are regularly hit by destructive typhoons; and Burkina Faso, whose people are suffering from the 2009 West African floods and the long term effects of the severe Sahel-wide food crisis. Entrepreneurs in these areas are using microfinance to start up and develop small businesses in sectors such as agriculture, transport and retail. The repayment of the loan can then be tracked online allowing lenders to follow the development of the business.
Kubaru aims to raise awareness of financial access in the aftermath of a natural or human disaster, and highlight the capacity of individuals to have a direct impact.
Stephen Hall, the Chair of Trustees at Kubaru, said:
“Kubaru is an exciting new charity which enables individuals to make a real impact on the lives of less fortunate people around the world. The website allows you to make a life changing loan to an entrepreneur and enables marginalised post-disaster communities to gain access to financial services”
Ben Warren, the 30 year old Kubaru founder, said:
“As the world’s first platform specialising in post-disaster microfinance, Kubaru aims to help the most marginalised individuals whose lives have been blighted by natural and man-made disasters. Over the coming years we will look to expand our reach and help communities in the immediate aftermath of disasters across the world”
The minimum loan amount through the site is £10 and lenders can register their interest and start making loans immediately.
Notes to Editors
Learn more about Kubaru at
Kubaru is a UK registered charity (1139934) established in January 2011 and based in London. Kubaru has been carefully established by a skilled team over the past three years and is fully compliant with UK charity law and regulations.
Our vision is to create a sustainable charity capable of materially increasing the supply of microfinance in the developing world, promoting entrepreneurship in post-disaster areas, and to engage a new audience in online microlending. The charity seeks to compliment traditional aid approaches in the aftermath of a disaster and help the local economy to grow.
Kubaru was established by Ben Warren and Stephen Hall. Ben holds an MSc in International Development and Security, has worked in the UK social investment sector since 2009 and currently works as a Social Investment Policy Adviser at the Cabinet Office. Stephen is a former banker and has established two successful businesses specialising in reducing financing and procurement costs for the UK public sector.
The charity’s trustees have substantial knowledge in software development, online marketing and microfinance. Ben, Steve and the other six members of the Kubaru team currently provide their time on a voluntary basis.
Kubaru is releasing a series of videos during the next months to showcase the new partnership.
If you would like more information about the launch or to schedule an interview with Kubaru, please contact Kubaru on info@kubaru.org
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Kubaru, on Friday 30 August, 2013. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
Microfinance Crowdfunding Kubaru Kiva Microcredit Microlending Burkina Faso Philippines Business & Finance Charities & non-profits
You just read:
Pioneering new post-disaster microfinance charity launches peer-to-peer microloans in Burkina Faso
News from this source: