There were times when the only thing that kept Susan Saiyorri going was her faith.The Kenyan woman and mother of four has faced many struggles, many of which stemmed from an alcoholic, abusive husband.But thanks to the help of a microfinancing program in Kenya, Saiyorri was able to turn her life around and provide a better life for her children.

Saiyorri was honored by MPA in St. Louis last week for her work with Jamii Bora, a microfinancing program in Kenya that helps people rise from extreme poverty. Sister Toni, a Sister of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon, founded MPA five years ago as a way to support and build on existing microfinancing programs in Africa

Susan Saiyorri is shown below with Sister Antoinette Temporiti, founder of Micro-finance Partners in Africa , in Nairobi, Kenya, last summer. 

Micro-finance Partners in Africa works with various community based organizations to create and support funding systems that furnish small, collateral-free, low-interest business loans. Grants are given to organizations that provide business, health and nutrition classes. Very often, all that is required are loans as small as $20 to bring a business into full production.  Realistic microfinancing terms, comprehensive training and the development of a community-based support network result in a high percentage of on-time repayments. This funding system provides the financial basis for the provision of additional training, loans and business creation.