Recognising the barriers that traditional financial services pose to impoverished minority groups by refusing loans due to insufficient financial collateral, Gobhanu was driven to create a solution.
Recognising the barriers that traditional financial services pose to impoverished minority groups by refusing loans due to insufficient financial collateral, Gobhanu was driven to create a solution.
At age 14, despite scepticism from many adults, Gobhanu founded Sustaining Women in Financial Turmoil (SWIFTmfi), a microfinance NGO dedicated to providing financial support to women in marginalised communities facing economic difficulties.
Over five years, SWIFTmfi has grown into a sustainable Microfinance Institution. Gobhanu's initiatives have facilitated microfinance funding for over 3,000 women in 77 countries, enabling the vast majority to start sustainable businesses, gain financial independence, and break free from poverty's grip. Globally, SWIFTmfi's efforts have impacted more than 74,000 lives.
In 2023, SWIFTmfi launched SWIFTconnect, an innovative online tool for financial literacy, benefiting over 400 young individuals across Asia and Africa.
In the previous year alone, Gobhanu has been a role model to over 4,200 students from various schools involved in fundraising, along with more than 15,000 students worldwide via a powerful social media outreach.
Gobhanu's dedication to reshaping the financial futures of women in marginalised communities is evident in his unwavering commitment to his nonprofit, managing SWIFTmfi while simultaneously pursuing a dual degree in ‘The Huntsman Programme’ in International Studies and Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Gobhanu's passion for micro-loans stems from his belief in the transformative power of opportunities to change lives forever.
