Issue date: 5/14/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Dana Laventure The Foundation for International Community Assistance's "Ambassador of Hope" Natalie Portman in Kimmel.

Academy Award-nominated actress Natalie Portman and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan hosted an event in the Kimmel Center to announce the launch the Village Banking Campaign, a micro-loaning system that hopes to aid one million of the world's poor.

The pair presented the program, which aims to fight poverty by enabling individuals to work themselves out of debt through small loans, before an audience of about 100 people who gathered in Kimmel's 10th floor Rosenthal Pavilion on May 2. The Foundation for International Community Assistance started the campaign, which hopes to operate 100,000 banks by 2010 and establish programs in five new countries for those who are living on less than $2 a day.

Over the past 10 years the foundation and American International insurance group have been working together to establish economic stability through a dual small loan and insurance coverage program. The Village Banking campaign will now expand these same principals into new areas such as the Middle East, Eurasia and specifically Jordan this July. American International pledged to support more micro-entrepreneurs through a $1.5 million grant to the campaign.

Al-Abdullah, a 36-year-old Jordanian royal and former banker, decided to join forces with the foundation in the past year to establish more stability in her country, which has been shaken by an influx of refugees from the Iraq war.

"I know there are resourceful men and women across the Middle East that are waiting for someone to give them an opportunity in micro-banking," she said of the program that gives out loans from as little as $10 to $50. "It sets a firm foundation for success in their lives."

The queen also joked with Portman, a Harvard alumna and the official FINCA Ambassador of Hope since 2003.

"When my four children found out the event was for Queen Amadilla, they practically packed my bags for me," she said, referring to Portman's "Star Wars" character.

Portman also spoke at the event, discussing how the repayment rates for the loans were more than 97 percent successful and that more than 90 percent of the loans go to women. The young actress' speech also promoted youth participation in the program.

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