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Why Buying Local Really Does Pay
We often see signs in our communities imploring us to “buy local.” And we all can agree that it’s generally a good thing to support the local businesses in our towns and cities. But what are the real benefits of buying local versus buying from big chains—especially since local goods tend to come at a…
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What is Microfinance, and Why Do We Use It?
At the heart of our SKImfi program—where we provide women entrepreneurs in Chile and Zimbabwe with small loans to start or grow their businesses—is microfinance. Microfinance, “is basically a bank for people who have very little to no income, probably no collateral, definitely not a formal job, maybe not even an informal job,” explains our…
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8 New Year’s Resolutions for Entrepreneurs
Here at SKI Charities, we empower women in Chile and Zimbabwe with the tools they need to be successful entrepreneurs. This isn’t just the microloans we provide, it’s also extensive training and guidance on things like budgeting, inventory management and more. Being an entrepreneur means continually learning and growing. Here are some resolutions for entrepreneurs…
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The Health Crises in Chile and Zimbabwe, and How We’re Helping
SKI Charities’ mission—to bring entrepreneurship, education, and empowerment to women in Lebu, Chile, and Mutare, Zimbabwe—extends beyond providing loans to SKIC participants so that their businesses can begin to take shape. We also work with women to build the confidence they need to network, achieve their goals, stand up to oppressive figures in their lives,…
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Celebrating Indigenous Culture At Our Chile Site
Whenever our founder, Shyam K. Iyer, visits our site in Lebu, Chile, he returns inspired by the crafts, textiles, and food being created by SKImfi microfinance beneficiaries of indigenous Mapuche heritage. SKI Charities aims to give women a path to start and grow sustainable businesses that encourage them to utilize their culturally-embedded skillset. We talked…
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“I Feel Like An Empowered Woman”: Meet Our Beneficiary Nataly Becerra
Before Nataly Becerra became a SKI Charities microloan beneficiary, she was relying on income earned selling snacks at her children’s school at special events and holidays. “With the few resources I had, it was difficult for me to sustain my business and support my family,” she says. Despite her circumstances, she “radiated confidence,” says our…
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Why Microfinance Was the Perfect Fit for SKI Charities
When Shyam K. Iyer first began SKI Charities, there was no question that microfinance would be the best method for him to execute his vision. Though the effectiveness of microfinance has been questioned since its rise to prominence in the early 2000s, Shyam stands by it as a powerful way to provide people with autonomy,…
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How Financially Empowering Women Can Reduce Domestic Violence
The United Nations Population Fund reports that in Zimbabwe, 1 in 3 women age 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual violence. UN Women reports that 35% of women in Zimbabwe have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. The Zimbabwe National Statistic Office reports that…
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Here’s What You Should Know About the Indigenous Mapuche People of Chile
Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas—and throughout the world, for that matter—have had to face the brutal force of colonization for hundreds of years. The native Mapuche people of Chile, who we serve through our microfinance and creative arts programs, have been a model of resistance against colonization and oppression. Even today, those left in Chile…
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How Our Programs Help Single Mothers
There’s a lot of stigma around single motherhood—after all, many mothers today choose to raise children on their own. And in the U.S. studies show that children raised by single mothers aren’t necessarily at a disadvantage to children from homes with two parents. But in Zimbabwe, where there’s an ongoing economic crisis, the financial hardship…