Nepalgunj, October , 2017-
Animal Nepal (AN) organized a microcredit training on 29th October 2017 in Nepalgunj, Banke. Ten equine owners from Kasgar community of Nepalgunj were actively participated in the programme.
Microcredit consultant Mr. Kiran Dhakal explained need and importance of microcredit, saving and how it can be a milestone to create foundation for better financial status of equine owners.
The major intention behind this training was to unite people of the community and initiate monthly group saving system. 
The brick season in Kathmandu runs for only half a year and the owners return back to Nepalgunj after the end of the brick season. In Nepalgunj most of them spend remaining time of the year in local tea shop. Some of them runs Buggy business in the town but many of them are jobless during the off brick production season. Animal Nepal is aiming to use that leisure time to engage them in microfinance and some other relevant trainings related to welfare of donkeys and mules.
When they take loans or advance money from a middleman or NIKE to run their house during off brick production season, they are forced to work on particular brick factory assigned by their traders where they may have to compromise on wages and other facilities. Thus, AN came up with the concept of microfinance and saving scheme which will lead them towards financial independency in future.
Currently there are 14 member in the ‘equine user group’. Every single member of the group is convinced to save certain amount of money into their joint back account ever month. Animal Nepal supported them with seed money; the organization is committed to provide facilitation in future to run the group. AN’s Programme Manager Kapil Kafle, Volunteer Surendra Deep Karki and trainer Kiran Dhakal facilitated the training.
