HAPPY CHRISTMAS

AND A PROSPEROUS (but more importantly) JOYFUL NEW YEAR

Usually we buy goats, toilets, or manure, instead of sending Christmas cards (all given to someone in a developing country - of course!). This year we have decided to spend the Christmas card money on business development. Not our business development! But that of someone in Uganda.

If look at the "We Support" section you will see that we are keen on a charity called Five Talents. It’s a small micro-finance charity. Micro-finance involves lending small sums of money to local people, enabling them to set up their own business. Just like many people in this country get loans to set up courier, chauffeur or taxi companies. It lends to people who wouldn’t normally be eligible for a loan. It’s based around the Anglican Church. Before you switch off because we mentioned “Church”, the Church has an existing infrastructure, which keeps it in direct contact with those in need. In addition, using the Church as a vehicle for setting up the micro-finance schemes minimises the risk of corruption.

Five Talents has such a good repayment rate that the £250 we give on your behalf, will be lent/repaid/re-lent; ten times over. So, instead of getting a Christmas card from us, you will get a warm fuzzy feeling that your Christmas card has helped a fellow entrepreneur in a different country.

Have a truly lovely Christmas

Best wishes

NIGEL THOMAS and FRANCES VALDES