International Year of Microcredit 2005
 
         
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  Hello [Your friend's name],
Your friend [Your name] has sent you this email to show you one of the Microcredit stories available on our website at http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org/.
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Fortunata Maria de Aliaga Fortunata Maria de Aliaga, Bolivia
Three Children Finishing School
(Photo credit: Rohanna Mertens for ACCION International)
Fortunata Maria de Aliaga has sold flowers from a La Paz, Bolivia, street corner for as long as anyone can remember. When her children were young, she worked long days to give them the opportunity she never had—the chance to go to school. There were days when she barely had enough money to set up shop.

Then, 15 years ago, Fortunata learned about Banco Sol, a bank affiliated with ACCION International. Together with three other women, she qualified for a loan that allowed her to buy flowers in bulk at a much cheaper rate. With a strong repayment record, Fortunata was approved for larger loans and began to borrow on her own. Today, Fortunata is proud to report that she put her savings to good use. “All three of my children finished school,” she beams. “And I even had money left to make some improvements to my house!”