Dear friend of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners,

Earlier this year, Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas approved the Uruguayan Micro-credit and Training Project', along with the Kolping Institute in Uruguay* . The goal of this project is to provide tiny micro-credit loans as well as training to micro-businesses in Uruguay.

Micro-credit programs have proven to be efficient, cost-effective tools in the fight against poverty, as they foster community development and help to meet the family needs of the local business owner. Furthermore, borrowers repay at rates of 95% or better, allowing repaid loans to provide new loans!

Starting in 2010, this project will initially provide micro-loans in the amount of $100 or $200 to micro-businesses in Uruguay. Each entrepreneur will have access to and receive on-going training and mentorship. Project evaluation will be conducted by Partner members in Uruguay and Minnesota. To create a sustaining program, new loans will be extended to new Uruguayan micro-businesses, using repaid funds. To date, we have raised $2,100 in funds, which includes funding from individuals, U.S. Bank and Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas. These funds cover the bulk of training and support materials for the first year. As for the loans, we are need of your help.

Please take a moment to consider fully-funding a micro-business loan for just $100, $200, or even more! Working together, we can make a difference in the lives of hard working, industrious Uruguayan men and women who just need that one opportunity you can provide.

One loan, one community, one family at a time, we can provide real hope in Uruguay. Rest assured, your 100% tax deductible contribution will make a difference as your “loan” turns into jobs and additional loans in Uruguay.

Sincerely,


David Kroonblawd
Chair, Business & Economic Development Committee Minnesota-Uruguay
Partners of the Americas

* Kolping Institute, Uruguay : * Emprecrea Project and Youth Business International (YBI) Emprecrea (a YBI program) was developed by Kolping Uruguay in 2005, as a program specifically designed to help disadvantaged but enterprising young people who lack opportunities. Kolping Institute was established in Uruguay in 1985 and is a social
Catholic organization, part of Kolping International. Emprecrea became an accredited youth business program in 2007, and currently operates in three cities within Uruguay, focusing efforts in the capital city of Montevideo.

Youth Business International champions youth enterprise, by growing a global network that provides young people with the opportunity to start their own business. We support our network by helping them develop our proven model of supporting young entrepreneurs through access to credit, volunteer business mentors and business start-up
support.

Our goal is that by 2020 we will have grown our network to make it capable of supporting 100,000 entrepreneurs each year, themselves directly creating one million new jobs. In 2008, the network supported nearly 7,000 entrepreneurs – bringing the total number of entrepreneurs supported to 97,000 and providing employment to hundreds
and thousands of people.