"Church" Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

This is actually not a church service, but a loan disbursement in a church building- our first in Katanga Province. The average loan size we give for first loans is around $50. The clients have 4 months to pay back the loan, meet weekly, and guarantee each other's loans in their BaCo (community bank). Disbursement Day is always a celebration (a lot like Church!). I think the movement in the photo captures some of the excitement, hope, and anticipation that was in the air that day.

cjmm, PJE, adam_k has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PJE (19443) 2005-12-18 19:17

Well I totally agree that the motion blur fits this scene. A wonderful time when folks get together to thank the Lord!

timpearson (0) 2006-06-09 22:35

This photo reminds me of a 4th of July party in Gressier, Haiti sometime around the year 1999.

adam_k (596) 2006-07-10 3:57

I think this could have been better in terms of sharpness etc.. but the situation presented here is a really interesting one...

I have heard that this kind of small loan systems work very well for example in other third world countries, especially in Bangladesh: they are distributed especially among women who seem something like 'more reasonable' concerning the money...
I would appreciate if you could write something more on how this system works in Congo??
What is the percentage of unpaid loans and is it also women who account for the majority of successful clients??
Regards,
Adam