thank you from Ghana!

Wow!
How very kind of those folks to send this email to me!
I'm speaking of the people in Ghana associated with Meridia.
I had chosen them to receive support in honor of my birthday62 this year.
Here's the email that I received yesterday...
honestly, it made me cry that my help meant so much to them.

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kiva.org
25 June 2020 8:45 PM

Update from Ghana

This update on your loan to Meridia was written by Kiva's Field Partner.

Dear Kiva Lender,

We are all in this together. No matter where you are in the world, you are facing a new reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a Kiva lender, you are an agent of positive change. The flexible working capital that you provide to Meridia and other social enterprises now has even higher social impact.

Like many social enterprises, Meridia is struggling to sustain operations due to COVID-19 restrictions. Land mapping and titling projects have been delayed in Ghana. The result is reduced revenue and increased vulnerability for women and cocoa farmers. Land rights provide economic security during uncertain times

An investment in Meridia is an investment in financial inclusion. Your patient capital unlocks the value of a customer's most valuable asset - land. Land owners with property rights increase property value by 2x and increase agricultural productivity by up to 60%. Annual family income increases 150% and loan approval rates increase by 12%. The impact does not stop there.

Meridia focuses on gender equality. Your patient capital strengthens the role of women in rural Ghanaian communities and contributes to the wellbeing of the entire family. Women landowners earn 3.8x more income and are 8x less likely to experience domestic violence. Children are more likely to go to school and less likely to be underweight. How is that for positive impact?

We are all in this together. Meridia still needs your support to empower women and cocoa farmers and thrive together in a post-pandemic world.

Lend directly to Meridia here: https://www.kiva.org/lend/1966124.

With gratitude,

The Kiva Labs: Social Enterprise Team