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To date, iZōsh Ann Arbor has granted
647 Women a total of $229,498 in
micro-loans which has grown exponentially to help individuals, families, and communities around the world.

iZōsh® is dedicated to the economic empowerment of women globally who are living in extreme poverty. By giving micro loans to these women we help them to lift themselves out of extreme poverty and reduce the risk of oppression and exploitation in their lives.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS:

CONNECT

LEARN

GIVE

CELEBRATE

It is really that simple. We will learn about the harsh reality of life for many women in our world today, take action in response to help this injustice, and celebrate the hope we will be giving to someone. It’s women investing in women, devoted to improving lives!

What to expect at an event:

In a nutshell, we’re about supporting women in extreme poverty by granting micro-loans to fund their plans for creating or expanding a business. At iZōsh Events we connect, learn, give, and celebrate the joy of empowering women. Our event activities emulate those of savings groups attended by many of the loan recipients in their local areas.

Connect – Each Event seems a bit like a party. There’s always coffee and treats while women talk informally as everyone gathers to begin the program. During this time, members participate in first round voting of proposed loan recipients. This first round of voting is called “stone voting” because members receive stones to place in a basket to “vote” for the particular loan recipients the member chooses. It’s fun and it’s one of the perks of becoming a member! If you know in advance that that you want to become a member you can do so before the Event and participate right away in the stone voting. Another perk for members is that in the few days before the event, members may propose loan recipients they would like to see funded.

When it’s time to begin, we sit at round tables of eight and there’s a short ice-breaker question to introduce the women at the table to each other. We range in age from teens to seniors — dressed in everything from jeans to skirts. Come in whatever makes you comfortable.

Learn – Because we are committed to educating ourselves about the challenges faced by women living in extreme poverty around the globe, there is a topic for each event. There is generally a speaker who is known for expertise in some area related to these challenges. This is usually followed by directed discussion at individual tables. Sometimes there’s a short video. As with any group, there are people who are comfortable talking in such a setting and those who prefer to listen — there is no pressure here!

Give – There is a basket passed at each table to collect members’ contributions in provided envelopes. We are modeled after a Savings Group where women in extreme poverty collect their contributions or “dues” and then ultimately fund each other with loans for business enterprises. Our contributions are committed amounts from our members that are paid to fund the loans that will be given during the evening. Membership “dues” are a confidential, self-determined amount. After collection at the table the money is then taken to the treasurers who count and announce the total amount collected. All the money will go towards the funding of the loan recipients chosen in the first round of voting (stone voting) and in the second round of voting (table voting).

The second round voting or “table voting” will occur sometime later in the Event. Each table will select more women to receive micro-loans. Both members and guests may participate during this round of voting. All the money collected goes directly and exclusively to loans and not to any other purpose.

Celebrate! – You will hear the clang of cowbells and the shaking of African gourd rattles, applause and cheers as we often celebrate when a woman’s loan is funded! There is incredible joy in knowing you have helped change the life of a woman by empowering her through a loan. Thousands of dollars come in and go out at each Event and that’s real cause for celebrating.

Come join us. You’ll be glad you did! We look forward to meeting you.

What is iZōsh?

What is
 iZōsh?

iZōsh: Women Investing in Women was founded by a small group of women at Huron Hills Church who were inspired to make a difference by the book, Half the Sky.

ABOUT US

iZōsh comes from the Ethiopian language Amharic. It is a word that means many things, but can be explained as “compassionate support of a woman”.

With so many women in developing countries facing challenges with extreme poverty, it is very encouraging to see women get together to do something about ‘it’ – iZōsh is phenomenal. Keep up the good work!”

Mercy Niwe
Program Management Officer, Economic Development
World Vision

Upcoming Event Dates

MARCH 13, 2020

Speaker: TBD

7:00-9:00 pm

Huron Hills Church
3150 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

FALL 2020 EVENT

TBD

7:00-9:00 pm

Huron Hills Church
3150 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Help our work continue…

Donate online via Huron Hills Church.. choose iZosh on the “give” pulldown menu.

-Thank you

Donate now via Huron Hills

SPEAKER testimonials

What our presenters have to say about iZosh…

“I’m so impressed with all the work iZōsh has done around the world to advance education, health and opportunity.”

Carly Fiorina

Opportunity International Global Ambassador
Founder of the One Woman Initiative

“I was absolutely overwhelmed by the commitment of the women of iZōsh to serve others who live in poverty. I was equally touched to see teenage girls sharing this passion alongside women in their 90’s. Caring for the poor connects us together in so many powerful ways, and to experience the excitement and determination of these American women who made it possible was priceless.”

Joan Mussa

Senior Vice President, Director of Mobilization
World Vision

“It is impressive how the women of iZōsh lean in to learn about the hard truths of gender violence issues related to global poverty, such as child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation. It’s equally impressive how they use that knowledge to stimulate their advocacy and gracious financial giving in order to be part of the solution to lift women out of poverty.”

Margo Day

Vice President of U.S. Education for Microsoft Corporation