As you know Expatgiving has so many volunteers in very different job roles. Thats why we love hearing from them to learn a little more about what they are doing to make a difference. This week were were lucky enough to talk to Laura Grijpink who works as a Volunteer at Milaap, a crowd funding website.
Milaap (which means 'connecting people' in Hindi & Urdu) was initiated in June 2010, by three passionate young entrepreneurs who had a single vision: to change people’s concept of giving and make it a personal, transparent, and sustainable process.
Milaap (which means 'connecting people' in Hindi & Urdu) was initiated in June 2010, by three passionate young entrepreneurs who had a single vision: to change people’s concept of giving and make it a personal, transparent, and sustainable process.
(image from milaap.org)
Read on to find out a little more about Laura and life as a Milaap Volunteer:
Can you briefly explain what Milaap is and the work they do?
Milaap is a crowd funding website, specialised in micro credits for women in India. People from around the world can help fund the rural communities in India. An example will explain it better: a woman in rural India wants to buy a cow, so she can sell milk and earn a little extra. She contacts a field partner of Milaap for a loan. This loan is published on Milaaps website and the search for a lender begins. On the website a lender can choose from different causes to finance. After a lender decided who should benefit from a loan, the lender logs in and can fund the loan by using a credit card. The woman pays back her loan within a certain time frame. After repayment the lender can choose to lend this amount again, or receive it back.
What made you decide to Volunteer for Milaap?
Originally I am from the Netherlands with a background in Private Banking. After moving to Singapore I have been looking for volunteer work where I could use my skills in lending. I also strongly believe microfinance is a good solution to empower people instead of just donating amounts.
How much time do you give to Milaap?
My work for Milaap is done from home behind my laptop. I receive around four emails a week with loan requests to review and write. This costs me a little more than one evening a week. I can easily combine this with looking after my three children (aged 6, 4 and 1)
What is you job role and main responsibilities?
For Milaap I review the requests from a field partner, check if the borrower will be able to repay the loan and I write a complimentary piece about the person and the request for the loan. This is published on Milaaps website. Hopefully my stories attract more lenders for the women who need it.
How does this volunteering experience benefit you?
I get a deeper understanding of the struggle women in emerging markets face. I admire their creativity and strength to overcome problems. It is very inspiring to see how they search for possibilities to earn some extra money. The earned amounts are used for very basic things like building a toilet or pay the education fees of their children.
Can you briefly explain what Milaap is and the work they do?
Milaap is a crowd funding website, specialised in micro credits for women in India. People from around the world can help fund the rural communities in India. An example will explain it better: a woman in rural India wants to buy a cow, so she can sell milk and earn a little extra. She contacts a field partner of Milaap for a loan. This loan is published on Milaaps website and the search for a lender begins. On the website a lender can choose from different causes to finance. After a lender decided who should benefit from a loan, the lender logs in and can fund the loan by using a credit card. The woman pays back her loan within a certain time frame. After repayment the lender can choose to lend this amount again, or receive it back.
What made you decide to Volunteer for Milaap?
Originally I am from the Netherlands with a background in Private Banking. After moving to Singapore I have been looking for volunteer work where I could use my skills in lending. I also strongly believe microfinance is a good solution to empower people instead of just donating amounts.
How much time do you give to Milaap?
My work for Milaap is done from home behind my laptop. I receive around four emails a week with loan requests to review and write. This costs me a little more than one evening a week. I can easily combine this with looking after my three children (aged 6, 4 and 1)
What is you job role and main responsibilities?
For Milaap I review the requests from a field partner, check if the borrower will be able to repay the loan and I write a complimentary piece about the person and the request for the loan. This is published on Milaaps website. Hopefully my stories attract more lenders for the women who need it.
How does this volunteering experience benefit you?
I get a deeper understanding of the struggle women in emerging markets face. I admire their creativity and strength to overcome problems. It is very inspiring to see how they search for possibilities to earn some extra money. The earned amounts are used for very basic things like building a toilet or pay the education fees of their children.
Thanks so much to Laura for sharing your experience with us, hopefully this will inspire many more people to sign up as volunteers and make a difference in their community!
Don't forget to check out all of ExpatGiving's current volunteering positions here
To find out more about Milaap please visit their website at: https://milaap.org/
Don't forget to check out all of ExpatGiving's current volunteering positions here
To find out more about Milaap please visit their website at: https://milaap.org/
We love to hear from all of our readers and volunteers, so if, Like Laura you would like to share your volunteering experience, then please do get in touch!
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