Kenday S. Kamara asked: Sierra Leone: Microfinance Demand and Stakeholders' Perceptions of ImpactBy Kenday S. Kamara, October 2008With a population of about 6 million people, composed of 20 ethnic groups, "with Temne (30%), Mende (30%), Creole (10%) and Other (30%) making up the composition; and with an estimated 935,800 households, Sierra Leone has one of the lowest human development index (HDI) with economic growth estimated at 5.5 percent and inflation at 2.2" (UNDP). The country is scarred by a decade long civil war. And since January 18, 2002 when the war was officially declared over, majority of Sierra Leoneans are today still struggling and in dire conditions.The persistence of poverty is causing irreversible harm to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Sierra Leone and the good life of her people. The level of poverty [+]

Jessica Peterson asked: All the initial steps for starting your own business can easily be financed with the funds obtained from a home equity line of credit and the flexibility for repayment will provide you with the ease you need to concentrate specifically on your business instead on repaying the loan.The characteristics of home equity lines of credit are perfect for this purpose.In this article we will analyze the concepts of home equity and home equity lines of credit and explain why these particular lines of credit are perfect tools for starting new businesses and what the benefits that these financial products provide are. Defining Equity Equity is the difference between the current value of your property and any pecuniary obligations that it is guaranteeing. These obligations can be liens, [+]