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Boznia & Herzegovina
Microenterprise Development |
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What is the need?
The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) resulted in severe destruction, loss of human life, demographic changes, and disruption of social and health services. Now, a decade later, the country remains divided into two parts—each with its own government.
With widespread poverty, high unemployment rates, and an absence of unity, the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are at a heightened risk for the spread of HIV/AIDS. Last year alone, the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country increased by 20 percent. With little awareness and few resources available about HIV/AIDS, the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to become increasingly more vulnerable to the threat of infection.
What is the solution?
World Vision has launched an initiative that utilizes microfinance institutions (MFIs) to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS among the vulnerable population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. World Vision-owned MFIs will not only continue to offer loans to the enterprising poor who lack collateral and credit history to qualify for traditional loans—they will also ensure each client benefits from an education in HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. And because these MFIs operate within both sectors of the country, they have an advantage over other local organizations—they can reach a greater number of people.
While the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still relatively low, a targeted HIV/AIDS awareness campaign could be extremely instrumental in ensuring the country does not become the victim of a costly, deadly, full-blown epidemic in the future.
Project Objectives (during the three-year project)
- Provide more than 14,000 poor entrepreneurs with business loans, counseling services and job training to help them start businesses, purchase supplies and equipment, expand operations, market goods or services, and hire additional staff
- Educate clients and family members about HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness
- Coordinate HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness workshops at 150 schools
- Print and distribute 60,000 copies of HIV/AIDS educational materials
- Host 30 roundtable discussions about HIV/AIDS in communities country-wide
- Collaborate with two other non-government local organizations to increase impact
- Provide proper documentation of activities undertaken
Project Duration
Three years
2005 Funding Needed
$315,890*
*Can be funded partially or in full. |
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