Espoir 7
Without financing, economic independence remains out of reach for many women in Ecuador. Espoir supports them with group loans and guidance, enabling them to grow their businesses. Invest alongside them and give women the opportunity for fair financial opportunities.
The project
Espoir is a non-profit organization that finances micro-entrepreneurs in Ecuador, particularly in remote areas. While banks consider small loans unprofitable, Espoir believes in giving these entrepreneurs a fair chance. For half of Espoir’s clients, this loan is their sole access to financing. Seventy percent of their clients are women who are often excluded from the traditional financial system. Through group loans, they can generate income and support their families.
How Does a Group Loan with Espoir Work?
To ensure these women can access financing, Espoir provides group loans. This model offers not only credit but also security and a strong social network.
A group consists of five to eight women who collectively guarantee each other’s loans. Each member receives an individual loan ranging from $200 to $1,100. If one member struggles with repayment, the others step in to help. Those who repay on time can access larger loan amounts in the future. This allows them to build a credit history, making it easier to secure financing later on.
Beyond financial support, Espoir offers training, healthcare services, and insurance. Through regular group meetings, women share experiences and gain new skills. They build confidence, strengthen their financial independence, and become role models in their families and communities. A group loan not only helps their businesses grow but also creates a brighter future for their families and society as a whole.
Espoir on Lendahand
- Active on Lendahand since: October 2023
- Total raised: €701,992
- Already repaid: €175,453
- Interest disbursed: €34,358
- Payments on time: 8 out of 8 (100%)
Your investment
- Annual interest rate: 8%
- With an investment of €1,000, the expected total repayment is €1,070
- Maturity: 18 months
- Repayments: quarterly. You will receive a repayment, including interest, every 3 months. Meaning there will be 6 repayments in total.
- Currency: Dollar. Please note that although you invest in euros, the loan is in dollars, so there is a risk of exchange rate fluctuations between dollars and euros. Visit our page on exchange rate risks for more information.
Espoir
Impact
In Ecuador, where Espoir operates, access to financing is a lifeline, especially in rural areas, where poverty affects nearly half the population and extreme poverty is alarmingly high. While financial hardship exists nationwide, rural entrepreneurs face even greater barriers to securing capital. Women, who make up the majority of Espoir’s borrowers, often have the hardest time accessing resources to grow their businesses. That’s why Espoir goes beyond microcredit, combining financial support with business education and health services across six provinces. By equipping low-income entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed, Espoir fosters long-term economic resilience and stronger communities.
- Percentage of female borrowers: 72%
- 94% of Espoir's borrowers say their quality of life improved in at least one way. Source: Survey conducted by 60dB.
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