How are urban projects and "revolving money" turning youth and female micro-entrepreneurs into job creators? Find out at Toronto International Microfinance Summit, Oct 4

TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Toronto International Microfinance Summit announced today that community partnering around small urban projects in Canada and the United States is not only helping women and youth earn a living; it's turning them into job creators. Canada's Premier Microfinance Event will hold its 6^th annual Summit at the Allstream Centre (Exhibition Place) on Saturday, October 4.  

"This is just one success story related to the 2014 Summit theme - Microfinance for Social Justice: How Can Microfinance Lead the Way?" said Karen Somerville, Rotary District 7070 Microfinance Committee Co-Chair and Summit Director. "The Microfinance Committee is helping develop a template for District Rotary Clubs, including the opportunity for Rotarians to mentor recipients of micro-loans."

"LaunchDETROIT was born in District 6400, home to 48 Rotary Clubs in Southeast Michigan and Southwest Ontario," stated Lawrence Wright, President of LaunchDETROIT and Rotary Past District Governor of District 6400.  "In partnership with local microfinance and financial institutions, we support entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing women and youth with access to business micro-loans and services, mentoring and networking opportunities."

 "Unlike charitable donations, micro-loans are revolving money," added Galina Tikhonovsky, President of Scarborough Rotary Club in District 7070 which is piloting a project in its Ontario community this year.  "Every 12 months a loan is paid back. Year after year, that money returns to the Club to help another entrepreneur improve his or her standard of living, to build financial assets and create jobs."

 This year, Canada's Premier Microfinance Event is sponsored by Oikocredit Canada-Central, JVL Global Corp and Alterna Savings, with The MasterCard Foundation providing financial assistance for 100 students to attend. Global trailblazers, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, Rupert Scofield, Co-founder, President and CEO of FINCA International and Marilyn Fitzgerald, PhD, author of If I Had a Water Buffalo, provide keynotes that frame the day. Breakout panels include:

• Financial Inclusion and Social Justice: Microfinance as a Means to Human Development;
• Using your Investment Dollars to Support Microfinance and Poverty Reduction;
• Urban Projects: Scarborough and Detroit;
• Mining, Partnerships, Financial Literacy and Gender Justice;
• BRAC's Holistic Development Model Explained; and
• Sustainable Development: Microfinance and Indigenous Peoples.

Participants will spend an interactive day with development professionals and social finance innovators who fight poverty at home and overseas. There's plenty of Q&A and expert speakers including:  Javed Sakhawat, Toronto International Microfinance Summit; Michael Scotland, ACCESS Community Capital Fund; Peter Scott, OCAD University; and Brian Thompson, District Governor, Rotary District 7070.

Everyone is welcome.  Join microfinance, development and business leaders, social innovators, government officials, politicians, entrepreneurs, academics, students, the media and anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship, social and economic innovation, sustainable development, poverty reduction and social justice.

Follow the Summit @microfinanceTO. Join the conversation at #tims14. Visit the micromarketplace. Watch the microwalk video and post to microbookclub blog www.torontomicrofinancebookclub.com

For TICKETS: www.microfinanceconference.ca or www.bit.ly/1opvsBx 

Our thanks to CNW Group for sponsoring this announcement.

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Toronto International Microfinance Summit is Canada's premier event focusing on domestic and international microfinance. Founded in 2009 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2011, the organization was inspired by the Rotarian Action Group for Microfinance and Community Development (RAGM) and Rotary District 7070 Microfinance Committee. The Summit's signature Conference (Gala and Course) are run entirely by volunteers of diverse backgrounds and ages. Our vision is a world without poverty through microfinance. Our mission is to hold an annual event that: educates our community on microfinance as a poverty reduction tool; brings diverse people together for dialogue and action; and raises profile and/or funds for those making an impact.  The 2014 theme is Microfinance for Social Justice.  www.microfinanceconference.ca

SOURCE: Toronto International Microfinance Summit

For more information and press passes, contact: Wendy Bodnoff, Marketing, Media & Public Relations, 905 334 3660, [email protected]