Global Development Matters September Meetup

Join us on Tuesday, September 29th as we welcome Rebecca Kousky, the Executive Director and Founder of the nonprofit Nest, to discuss her unique business model. Nest utilizes a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, to help its loan recipients create successful small businesses. Nest’s mission is to instill pride of ownership in its artisans, preserve artistic traditions and successfully move women from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Rebecca will also address a new way to assist women: microbartering. To address some of the limitations of microfinance, Nest provides women, or cooperatives of women, with loans that allow them to purchase the supplies, training, bazaar space or raw materials needed to make their crafts. However, rather than requiring repayment in cash, Nest encourages women to repay their loans in product, which Nest then markets and sells in the U.S.

Please join us at 6:30pm for informal conversation, refreshments, and browsing (Rebecca will have some Nest items on-hand!). We’ll get started with the presentation around 6:45pm and allow plenty of time for your questions and follow-up discussion. Please note our new address and that you will need photo identification to enter the building.