Microfinance clients are often described according to their poverty level-vulnerable non-poor, poor, very poor. At Nightingale, the women make up 100% of clients. These clients operate small businesses, work on small farms, work for themselves or for others in a variety of businesses-fishing, carpentry, vegetable selling, small shops, transportation, food processing, weaving, beauty parlor, agriculture and allied activities. Some of these microfinance clients are truly entrepreneurs – they enjoy creating and running their own businesses. Others become entrepreneurs by necessity when there are few jobs available in the formal sector.
