The Chiapas Project

Helping Women Create Their Own Futures

As a successful and dynamic business woman, Gail Plummer, CEO of Altair, is committed helping other women achieve their dreams. To this end, she serves as Second Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of The Chiapas Project.

Based on the principles of microfinance promoted by Grameen Foundation, the Chiapas Project assists impoverished women living in Mexico’s poorest state. Through micro-loans of as little as $100, these women are empowered to start small, often home-based businesses and become entrepreneurs in their own right. According to Ms. Plummer, “We could literally end poverty in this lifetime.”

The idea is to create self-sufficiency among one of the region’s most disadvantaged populations.

Participants’ success filters down to their children through access to better education and health care, and to their community through the creation of jobs. Loan repayment rates top 98%, and many women take out subsequent loans to reinvest in their ventures. Helping other women to build their own businesses seems appropriate for a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur. “Life should be worthwhile. And it is, if you can make even a small difference,” Ms. Plummer says.