PROCOMES - Corporación de Proyectos Communales de El Salvador San Salvador, El Salvador Procomes@salnet.net # of clients: 1,910 # women: 75% Outstanding Loans: US$ 221,809 Staff: 38 (including community development programs) Founded: 1988 Director: Jaime Choto Microcredit Programs: PROCOMES offers microentrepreneurs small loans and business training through community banks composed of 16 - 25 members each. Bank members vouch for each other's commitments to meeting all repayment and savings obligations, elect their own board of directors, run their meetings, collect principal and interest payments, and deposit members savings into a group account. The PROCOMES banking model was developed through pilot projects testing different teaching methods for improving business skills as well as developing the highest degree of confidence and self-esteem among bank members. The final training package includes group work, business training, reflection on men's and women's roles, discussions of domestic violence, and self-defense techniques. << Back to map