a book review

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ms. Novogratz is an inspiring woman who went from a position of privilege and an idea to change the world, in a way that I could only describe in modern vernacular as “white savior”, to working with the poorest in Rwanda (pre-genocide) and Ghana, where she fought to found a woman run bank that specialized in microfinancing loans for women to finance ways to establish their own businesses to provide for their families. She then returned back to the United States and at the Rockefeller Foundation, where she realized that what is needed in philanthropy and charity is what we at the Community Foundation refer to as “centering on community voice.” It’s all well and good to fund a flour processing mill’s construction – but when you do not provide the means to teach the workers how to repair the equipment or factor in “how are they going to obtain the fuel to run the machines”, your money and time are wasted and often resented by those you are trying to help.

She went on to found the Acumen Fund – a Not-for-profit that provides grants and loans to low income/poverty level entrepreneurs around the world to help bring dignity and independence to those who need it the most.

+++++

I cannot even tell you how this book landed on my radar, but somehow, I had requested it from the library and then promptly forgot about it. But when it became available, I trusted that past me had a reason for wanting to read it. And I am glad I did.

This was a good book that looks not only into the life of a rather extraordinary woman, but makes you think on just how much the global community is interconnected and how one small act can make a HUGE change in not only the world but also just one person. And you never know how changing the life of that one person can in turn, change the world.




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