Andrew Forde
99 St Michaels Road
Newtonhill
Stonehaven
Kincardineshir AB39 3XW
18th November 2004
Dear Andrew
Thank you for the support you and your colleagues are giving to the development of the Children's
Development Bank programme where we are working in partnership with Butterflies in New Delhi.
Our plans are as follows:
1. We have a development grant from Comic Relief to expand the programme by creating
16 further banks in India and in Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan. And we are looking additional support for starting up
in Pakistan. So far, three of the projects are well underway, with a cluster of 6 banks in Kolkata and a cluster of 8 in Dhaka.
The Delhi Bank is being split into 12 units each serving a particular location.
2. Once the programme is under way and on course, we want to start to think about
expanding the idea into other countries. There is a lot of interest and we are getting enquiries by the day. So at an appropriate
time we would like to be able to respond very positively.
3. We have identified a specific need for support, which is that each bank will have
a "Children's Fund" under the control of the children to make grants for the following purposes:
To partly repay any defaulting loands. If a child starts up in business and it does not work out, we don't want him or her
to be any worse off. On the other hand we don't want to be seen as a soft touch where loans do not need to be repaid.This
will be a challenge for each bank to determine a policy on this. But having funds for this purpose is important, and it will
also allow a more relaxed policy on what micro-enterpirse ideas to lend to.
To provide grants for such things as educational costs, exam fees, and so on, plus to provide
for anything positive that will improve the life of a child where a small sum of money is required.
I think that the children's fund will work really well, and that it will be an extremely
positive force channeling money direct to the children who need it. It is additional to the Comic Relief grant we have, and
this idea allows us to pursue an idea for ensuring sustainability (in that the funds of the bank will not need to be replenished).
We have agreed this with Butterflies, and with you permission and an assurance that there will be a flow of further money
for future years, I will put to Butterflies that they use your £500 fund to set up the first Children's Fund in our programme.
For us this will also be an opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of this idea and
to monitor how the money is required and how of this extra support is really much needed. So we are really grateful.
We would like this to be the first of a series of annual payments of the same amount, and
that you support might continue over a number of years. I accept that you may or may not be able to raise similar sums for
future years; but as long as some money is forthcoming, then I think that I would be able to find ways of compensating for
any shortfall.
I am also in discussion with two other people regarding thieir doing something similar.
So getting something up and running as soon as possible would really help motiviate more people.
The money will be remitted as soon as I have your agreement to this, and as soon as Butterfiles
confirms the reporting requirements. When I discussed this with them last month,they did not want to impose any additional
reporting burden on themselves or their partners. So I broadly agreed that they would provide accounts and annual reports
already being produced plus a list of payments made from this fund. In return you and your colleagues and friend would be
the "sponsor" of this particular bank. And I am sure that they would welcome further interest and support.
I hope that this answers all your points. I really am very grateful. But this is not for
me, but for the children. My recent trip confirmed to me that the project is absolutely great and has the ability to transform
people's lives. And this is so important for a group of very vulnerable children who are often seen as victims.
I am attaching a short brochure I have just prepared, which you can circulate as you wish.
If you need anything else, pleas let me know. With thanks and best wishes,
Michael Norton
Director
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