Lendahand Blog

Written by Lynn Hamerlinck on 5 November 2020

When you travel to a country like Uganda, you prepare yourself for a string of buses, minivans and boda-boda’s to get around. But as a local, you want reliable and safe options to commute to work or to get to an appointment on time. How do you get from A to B?

Written by Lynn Hamerlinck on 7 October 2020

It might sound surprising that while the pandemic is affecting economies and households all over the world, solar home systems are in high demand in Africa. But when you suddenly start spending all your time at home, light and electricity become priorities.

Written by Lynn Hamerlinck on 23 September 2020

Over the past few years, the Lendahand portfolio has diversified significantly. You can directly fund entrepreneurs from several different industries, such as agriculture or solar energy. Additionally, you can also visit our platform for perhaps the best-known form of financing in emerging markets: microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Providing emerging markets, especially in Sub-Saharan countries, with social, economic and humanitarian aid has been a top priority for the West since the ‘60s. The idea has always remained the same; donating large amounts of money will close the savings gap. However, research has shown that foreign aid doesn’t necessarily make for a better world. It can actually do more harm than good. How is Lendahand any different?

Here are some astonishing numbers. Approximately three billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions. They are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. On top of that, 840 million people live without electricity, of which 50% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The United Nations wants to ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all. We’re proud to introduce you to three of our partners who do just that.

What affects one person anywhere, affects everyone everywhere. Coronavirus has shown that what we need is more collective action. We need a common response, involving each and everyone. As human beings we need to realize that we’re all in this together and that we are inevitably part of a species. If we fall back into nationalism, as is currently taking place, we are giving away the chance to really promote change. What can we do today?

According to the United Nations “public investment in agriculture globally is declining. Small-scale food producers and family farmers require much greater support.” What the UN cannot stress enough is that “Investment in the agriculture sector is critical for reducing hunger and poverty, improving food security, creating employment and building resilience to disasters and shocks.” Food for thought, right?

It’s our mission to fight poverty by investing in people and businesses. The facts are harsh. 731 million people live in extreme poverty. They survive on less than €1,90 a day. To eradicate poverty, we need to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. Here’s how you can contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #8.

As we are all tragically aware, a health emergency such as COVID-19 can cause bankruptcy in both developed and developing countries. However, in the Netherlands we are fortunate enough to rely on a social safety net. Also, we are able to physically distance ourselves from one another and work from home. In developing countries, there isn’t space to socially distance yourself. What can we do to ensure healthy lives for all?

Despite the sunny weather we’ve all been spending most of our time indoors. By ourselves, maybe a partner or a roommate and hopefully a stocked refrigerator, these can be lonely times. Social distancing is challenging, but could also be rewarding. Would you believe us if we tell you your self quarantine can actually empower communities?

Good news: there’s no need for you to go outside to make an impact. There are tons of things you can do from the comfort of your home. So put on your pajamas, pour yourself a beverage of choice and raise your glass. Here’s to solidarity!

Your precious ring depreciates dramatically the minute you walk out of the shop. Jewelry, amongst cars and phones, are goods that drop most in value. Diamond rings especially can collapse in price from $1000 to $50. Even when you have a certificate that verifies the diamond’s authenticity, diamond rings are only worth investing in when you buy them at the right price. It’s most likely that the price you pay is a false price, as high street jewelers usually have profit margins of 300%, excluding VAT.

Written by Lucas Weaver on 16 March 2020

We’d like to introduce you to Georgian Credit: a microfinance organization established in 2006. By funding projects from Georgian Credit, you’ll empower hard-working entrepreneurs across Georgia.

Fighting poverty worldwide and making money out of it – seems quite contradicting, doesn’t it? In the past seven years, we’ve learned that it’s possible. In order to understand how this works, let’s first have a look at how poverty arises and how it stays in tact.

"Equality between men and women is not only a human right, it’s also the basis for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world”. We couldn’t agree more with the United Nations. Because women are still disadvantaged compared to men, the UN has made gender equality Sustainable Development Goal #5. By 2030, men and women must have equal rights such as education, health care and jobs. Find out how you can help to achieve this goal.

Welcoming a rescue dog into your life actually has a lot in common with crowdfunding a better world. In both scenarios, it’s best to contemplate before committing to such an investment. Of course, it’s easy to get over excited because of all available furry friends and exciting projects. Make sure to ask yourself these six questions before picking one.

Written by Lily Zhou on 12 December 2019

On December 11, 2019, at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP25, in Madrid, Lendahand together with 500 other companies publicly committed to accelerate the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions to reach a 1.5 degree trajectory leading to net zero by the year 2030—20 years ahead of the 2050 targets set in the Paris Agreement.

Written by Lily Zhou on 21 November 2019

It’s almost December, so it's getting close to time for New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions are challenging goals that can help you become a better version of yourself, such as quitting smoking, running a marathon, being nicer to the people around you, or maybe even standing up for yourself more.