Annual Report 2012–13

Serving and Caring 37 政治與行政學系黃雅怡與三位同學在內蒙的敖漢婦女發展協會落腳，協會主 要透過給予貧困婦女小額貸款，協助她們做小生意自力更生。八週的實習 工作主要是與協會的信貸員下鄉，訪問借貸的農戶，了解其需要，以及小 額貸款對她們的幫助，務求協會的服務更切合所需。 與信貸戶傾談後，雅怡發現她們一般每年可借人民幣六千元，其實搔不着 癢處，她們仍要到其他單位籌措款項。信貸戶要提供收入證明作為還款保 證，換言之，她們須有工作或生意已起步，而最需要協助的赤貧之人，往往不符合 借貸條件而不能受惠。 雅怡說：「理念上小額貸款是可幫助她們，但實際運作卻受不少其他因素影響，現實總不能如理 想般完美。」她說此行尤如開了一扇窗，堅立了她將來專研社會發展這方向，希望可用新思維落實對貧困 者的幫助。 Rachel Wong from the Department of Government and Public Administration had her internship at Aohan Women’s Development Association in Inner Mongolia with three other team members. The association helps women in poverty by providing them with small loans to run their own businesses. During the eight- week placement, the major duty of the students was visiting the borrowers with the association’s staff. They interviewed the debtors to know whether the loan scheme can help these peasant households and relayed their feedback to the association. In general, each woman can borrow RMB¥6,000 per year. Rachel found that the amount was only a drop in the bucket. They still have to borrow money from other parties. Moreover, the women have to provide income proof, that is, they must have a job or business. This means that the most underprivileged cannot benefit from the scheme. Rachel said, ‘In theory, small loans can help women in poverty. But in the real world, there are many constraints which make situations less than ideal.’ The experience gave her new insight and reassured her to pursue her study in the field of development study. 小額貸款助貧困婦女 Small Loans for Women in Poverty