Press
If you are a journalist, blogger or researcher looking for a case study or interview please contact Kaire on 0117 329 6519 or 07851 728 773, email kaire[at]deki.org.uk
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What the press have said:
"While other ethical schemes invite you to send a goat to a developing world village, Deki gives you the opportunity to offer a microloan."
- Lucy Siegle, The Observer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/05/innovator-deki-microloan-vashti-richards?INTCMP=SRCH
"Now that a wave of microlenders - from Kiva to Deki to Five Talents - has followed in [Muhammad Yunus'] footsteps, it's easy to invest your money in the business, career development and all-round wellbeing of someone in the developing world."
- Emma John, The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/06/ten-big-ethical-ideas?INTCMP=SRCH
Red Magazine nominated Deki's CEO, Vashti, Red Hot Woman of the Year 2010. She's now on their Red Panel - read her biog here:
http://www.redonline.co.uk/red-women/red-panel/vashti-richards
"Deki is similar to Kiva, but this UK-based site doesn't collect any percentage of donations for its own operating costs, and its loan recipients are found in far fewer areas - right now, just the UK, Ghana and Nepal. Users choose a microloan recipient, the loan amount is forwarded to a field partner in the local currency (to mitigate the risk of financial loss due to currency fluctuation) and the loan is repaid over a 6- to 12-month period."
- '9 Ways to Do Good With 5 Minutes or $25' - Mashable
http://mashable.com/2010/04/17/social-good-micro-lending/
"Gift certificates are sold online - with a downloadable voucher sent either direct to your recipient or to you to wrap in a glittery envelope... Even the most curmudgeonly recipient will surely balk at asking why you couldn't have got them bath salts like a normal person."
- Anna Britten, Venue Magazine
http://www.venue.co.uk/lifestyle-features/4670-pennies-from-heaven
"I'm a big fan of micro finance and have been on the look out for an alternative to Kiva where the loans were transacted in British sterling.
At last, I've found one. It's called Deki..."
- 'NumboJumbo', moneysavingexpert.com forums
"Nick [Park, Deki's patron], a four-time Academy award-winner for his Bristol-made Aardman-produced films said: "It's such a simple idea - to connect individual people in this country to individuals in some of the world's poorest countries so they can offer first-hand, direct support."
- 'Oscar-winner Nick Park lends his support to Bristol micro loan charity' - Bristol Business News
http://www.bristol-business.net/?p=2701
“What Christmas gift can you get for someone who has got everything? A Bristol-based charity is hoping that this year, people will choose to help those who have very little by giving a gift voucher that is also a repayable loan.
Already, Deki has administered more than £80,000 of micro-loans, and more than 300 people in Ghana, Nepal,Togo and Malawi have been able to create a sustainable income.”
Suzanne Savill, Evening Post
Individuals pursuing small and medium scale businesses in Usisya in Nkhata Bay [Malawi] have started getting interest-free loans on Friday following the launch of a loan scheme aimed at rendering them self-sufficient.
"These loans are aimed at helping individuals to live a life out of poverty through setting up of micro-entrepreneurship activities or boosting those that are already in existence," said Temwa Director Tonderai Manoto.
Karen Msiska, The Daily Times 19 December 2011
"A year ago, I came across this amazing website called DEKI, and it is a charity website like no other. It is based on giving to people in poverty who want to set up their own business. Some are hairdressers, some have a cleaning product business and you don’t donate, your money goes towards a microloan to help them set up their business."
The Frugality blog, 4 April 2012
http://www.the-frugality.com/2012/04/charity-giving.html
"Tots 100 have recently launched Time to Share, which aims to raise awareness of smaller charities, publicise volunteering opportunities and of course raise funds, by getting bloggers involved.
I've been paired up with Deki, which is the first UK person-to-person microloans charity; Instead of giving 'aid' they give loans to people from Togo, Malawi, Ghana and Nepal so that they can set up or expand their own businesses and access training and support - this allows people to preserve their dignity, as they are not receiving a hand-out, but a fair loan that needs to be repaid.
We Don't Eat Anything With A Face blog, 11 May 2012
http://wedonteatanythingwithaface.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/have-you-got-time-to-share-with-deki.html
"I love this charity website. You don't donate; you give a microloan (part of a bigger loan) for entrepreneurs starting small businesses living in poverty. You can lend £10 to a woman selling cakes and you get email updates telling you when they've repaid the loan. Then you get the choice to reinvest, withdraw or donate to the charity. £10 can help numerous different people."
Alex Stedman, junior fashion editor, The Red Magazine, 21 December 2012
http://www.redonline.co.uk/news/in-the-news/21-december-best-of-the-web
"Founder Vashti Seth, a former film production manager who was inspired on a visit to India in 2006, says Deki has helped improve life for more than 8000 people in, Ghana, Nepal, Togo, and Malawi. which has had a particular interest for Scottish supporters.
Katey Tabner, 28, a social researcher from Edinburgh, has made nine loans to Malawian enterprises and says: "If the money comes back I would then reinvest it, and if there was money sitting in a pot I would rather put it in Deki than in a bank account.""
The Scottish Herald, 15 December 2012
http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/personal-finance/scots-donate-more-than-rest-of-uk.19671679