The Global Politics course requires a hands-on experience undertaken by each student in an area they are interested in. I chose to evaluate the effectiveness of micro-financing as a tool of female empowerment in India for a multitude of reasons. Poor women are some of the most marginalised groups of the Indian community, falling in one of the lowest bands of India’s orthodox class system. Micro-finance has been a frequently implemented solution for not only alleviating the poverty levels of women but also as a tool for female empowerment, a notion that needs to be more widely supported in a country existing with a patriarchal outlook on society. While I was initially introduced to micro-finance by a documentary that included multiple interviews with women that have been able to sustain themselves thanks to banks that specialise in micro-financing, after subsequent research, I realised that it is not always effective, as it has the potential to cause negative consequences. I became really interested in this political issue due to its evident links to human rights and development. I wanted to explore it within Indian society since it is my country of origin so I think would definitely further engage my passion and commitment towards my Engagement Activity. I have decided to volunteer at India Volunteer Care, a non-profit organisation that provides me with the opportunity to work with these women and procure a first-hand experience of their lives, to analyse how much of an impact micro-finance has had on it. As of today, I simply need to book the flights to Chennai for this summer. I could not be more excited!
