In a rural community in West Bengal, India, two women living in extreme poverty were able to improve their families’ lives by engaging in microenterprise ventures that provided them with alternative sources of income. The four-minute documentary “Test of Poverty” follows their story.
The documentary was produced by Trickle Up, an international organization that seeks to empower people living on less than USD1.25 a day, or those classified by the World Bank as extremely poor. Focusing on how the two women were able to make sustainable sources of income from startup assets and support provided by Trickle Up, the film aims to raise awareness on how poverty reduction initiatives should involve interventions beyond financial resources.
“Test of Poverty” was produced with support from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor - Ford Foundation Graduation Program, an international initiative aimed at enhancing understanding of how safety nets, livelihoods, and microfinance can help lift people out of extreme poverty.
The video is reposted with permission by Trickle Up. The original is posted here.
About the author
Ivy Mungcal
As former senior staff writer, Ivy Mungcal contributed to several Devex publications. Her focus is on breaking news, and in particular on global aid reform and trends in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Before joining Devex in 2009, Ivy produced specialized content for U.S. and U.K.-based business websites.