Can very poor people actually start and run a successful business?
Absolutely. Many poor people have skills that can quickly become an income producing activity. With small sums of money, they are able to purchase the inventory, supplies and tools needed to start or expand microbusinesses that range from weaving, sewing, grinding grain, reselling produce, and growing and selling vegetables, to catching and selling fishing, wholesaling dried fish, raising chickens to sell eggs, and breeding livestock. We also help the rural poor start technology microbusinesses, such as selling cell phone time to other villagers, which also provides valuable means of communications and access to vital information. These small ventures can grow into vibrant community businesses. One microentrepreneur in the Philippines dried fish caught by her husband and sold them to local markets. The demand grew quickly and she then hired her neighbors to help. Now, nearly 20 neighbors earn an income from her family fish business, and her entire community is benefiting.
