We do this by providing mostly women with interest-free Loans (Qarz-e-Hasna) to start or expand a small business. HEWT Foundation is an organization that was started in 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan with the intent to eliminate poverty, one family at a time, amongst the poorest of the poor people. This is achieved by providing micro-credit interest-free loans (Qarz-e-Hasna) so that these recipients can start small businesses or if they already have small businesses, they can expand it. These small loans provide them access the capital which combined with their entrepreneurship skills would translate into a source of earnings, thereby improving their livelihoods. Our loans are offered mostly to women and some men also, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or tribal backgrounds. This program is available in limited cities in Pakistan right now, but our goal is to expand it to all the big and medium-sized cities soon. Loans are mostly given to women because historically when they start making money, they elevate the whole family from children’s education to their diets and their other emotional needs. This way the lifestyle of the whole family gets uplifted. Our model of offering interest-free loans (Qarz-e-Hasna) is different from some of the other similar models in a way that HEWT doesn’t charge any interest or fee for the loans that are provided. The ultimate goal of our effort is to bring well-being in the lives of poor people who do not have access to the capital otherwise because they have no collateral or credit history. We do not want to burden the recipients with any interest payments so that they can return the exact amount and improve their lifestyles in the process.
