As someone who is relatively new to the world of microfinance, the past six months working with the exec team of Wokai Toronto has been eye opening. We often hear about the explosive growth and modernization that China is currently undergoing, but what gets left out is that over 100 million Chinese in rural areas live below the international poverty standard of less than a dollar a day.

Wokai is a global organization that has identified this problem, and is dedicated to helping those people lift themselves out of poverty through the power of microloans and empowering Chinese entrepreneurs to start small businesses. The results are a 99.5% repayment rate and hundreds of new entrepreneurs that are on the path to a better life. 

Wokai Toronto aims to raise awareness of this important issue locally, with a limited two week run of “The Road Untraveled”, a photography exhibition featuring artists who have spent time exploring the many different parts of China. Through a diverse collection of photographs, the exhibition aims to bring to life the unique mosaic of cultures and landscapes that represent the people Wokai helps, and show how economic tools like microloans can be an impactful way of alleviating rural poverty in China.

The opening reception night will take place on Thursday, March 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. and feature a live auction, an exclusive screening of a short film on life in rural China, and much more, with proceeds going directly towards raising loan contributions for rural Chinese entrepreneurs.

As a relatively new chapter, we hope to get more engaged with the local social finance community, and encourage anyone with an interest in this space to attend (and bring friends)!

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2011 (7-10 pm) 
Location: IX Gallery, 11 Davies Ave, Toronto, ON (Queen St. E and DVP)

Tickets can be purchased online at www.wokai.org/events for $25 or at the door for $30 

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