In the first six months of 2026, 45 more women joined Mineke Foundation’s Women’s Club, bringing total membership from 272 to 317. Each of them is now building a business, saving money, or learning a new skill, often for the first time.
The growth shows in the results. In the first half of 2026, Mineke Foundation lent about USD 40,000 in microloans to 128 women. Members also lend to each other: 81 women received a loan from a fellow member. Together, members saved more than USD 10,000, almost double what they saved in all of 2025. More women are also saving regularly: 152 members now put money aside every month, up from 128 at the end of last year.
Part of that growth is thanks to a new approach: this year, the Club introduced membership levels and loan tiers, so a woman just starting out gets different support than one ready to expand an established business. Once enough new members have joined to form a group, they also get short vocational training, like learning how to make pastries they can start selling within a few days.
The target for the end of 2026 is 400 members. Members themselves do much of the recruiting. They go out with the team to tell others about the Club, and they talk about it in their own neighbourhoods. Churches, markets and community meetings help too, one conversation at a time.
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