India

Gowri Bai lives in the village of Kadu Shivanahalli. Through small business loans with Opportunity International, Gowri and her husband have established a small variety store, the only one in their village.
 
With some of the profits of the business, Gowri's husband has been able to free his brother from bonded labour - or as we understand it, slavery. Bonded labour was banned from India in 1975, and it technically remains illegal.  The sad reality, however, is that millions are still in the grip of slavery in India, working to pay back their debts. 
 
Gowri Bai is on her second loan of 5,000 rupees ($200). When asked what she will do with the profits of this loan, she tells the story of her husband's younger brother who is still in bonded labour.  It only costs 5,500 rupees to free him. Their profits will go towards this goal.
 
Gowri Bai is just one example of how microfinance can make a massive impact within a family.  Her small business has allowed her and her husband to end oppression and the denial of basic human rights for her relatives.