A good example of local action is the Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF), which provides short-term loans of up to $15,000 to small business owners, new entrepreneurs, internationally-trained professionals and community groups.
OCLF managing director George Brown says his organization, incorporated in 2000, was created as a vehicle to meet the needs of small business financing at a local level.
In the past couple of years, OCFL has partnered with the Ottawa Women's Credit Union and with Alterna Savings; Alterna is a self-described 'people and communities first' financial services organization with 150,000 members; OCLF's volunteer committee (drawn from the business and banking sector) reviews business plans and loan applications while Alterna looks after loans administration.
The Osu Children's Library Fund (
OCLF), of which Knowles is the founder and director, has published two photo-illustrated books which depict everyday life in Ghana.