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Princess Mathilde

Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium
Emissary for the International Year of Microcredit 2005

"The Year of Microcredit will highlight how women's talents and innovation, together with access to credit and savings can give them the power to make long term investments in their families, communities, and their children's lives."

H.R.H. Princess Mathilde of Belgium was born on 20 January 1973 in Uccle, near Brussels. She is the daughter of the Count and Countess Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz. Princess Mathilde studied to be a speech therapist at the "Institut Libre Marie Haps" in Brussels, obtaining her degree magna cum laude. She had her own professional speech therapy practice in Brussels from 1995 until the end of 1999. The Princess also received a master's degree cum laude in psychology at the Catholic University of Louvain in 2002. The Princess has a special interest for working with vulnerable people, in particular with children. Within these areas of interest, the "Fund Princess Mathilde" was created in December 2000. Each year, the Fund identifies projects that aim to make a difference in helping vulnerable people. In May 2002, she participated as a member of the Belgian delegation at the UN Conference on Children in New York. More recently she headed a humanitarian mission to Niger together with UNICEF and the Belgian development cooperation, highlighting children rights, the empowerment of women and poverty eradication. Besides Dutch and French, the Princess speaks English and Italian. Princess Mathilde was granted the title of Princess of Belgium upon her marriage to H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium on 4 December 1999. Princess Mathilde has a daughter, Princess Elisabeth, and a son, Prince Gabriel.

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Phorn Hun

Cambodia
Phorn Hun never had property of her own. She lived in a thatched-roof house along the fence of a pagoda. No one dared to give her a loan until Mrs. Hun approached ACLEDA Bank and explained her unfortunate situation. Read Phorn's entire success story >>
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