The “ Microcredit of Freedom ” is born in Nuoro, the first in Italy , for women victims of domestic violence who find themselves in particular conditions of vulnerability and social and financial exclusion.
The credit instrument is the result of the partnership between the Caritas Service of the Diocese of Nuoro and Banco di Sardegna – BPER Banca Group. It is promoted by the Department of Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and signed by the National Microcredit Agency, ABI, Federcasse and Caritas Italiana. The loan, with a maximum duration of 5 years, is provided by Banco di Sardegna at zero interest, for a maximum amount of 10 thousand euros .
The representative for the "Ruth Project - Microcredit of Freedom" of the Caritas Service of the Diocese of Nuoro, had the delicate role of assisting and accompanying the female beneficiary in the process of accessing the financing, from the preliminary phase of the request to the sending of a detailed report to the Banco di Sardegna. Caritas, with its network of branches, combined with the widespread presence of the Banco di Sardegna, covers the entire island territory offering support that allows, very quickly, access to credit by the women who have turned to to an anti-violence center or a shelter.
For Sister Pietrina Careddu, director of the Caritas Diocese Service of Nuoro, «the positive outcome of this operation is the first tangible sign of the fruitful collaboration established between Banco di Sardegna, the main island credit institute, and the diocesan Caritas, aimed at supporting the more fragile subjects. It is a community act that restores hope and generates small sprouts of trust ." Giuseppe Cuccurese, general director of Banco di Sardegna, was also satisfied: «We are proud to have approved the first Freedom Microcredit practice in Italy. Accompanying women victims of violence towards financial emancipation is one of the ways in which Banco di Sardegna wants to do banking not only on an economic but also a social level."
