For the past 30 years, caritas has been running a microfinance programme, which today is considered to be the backbone of Caritas Jerusalem’s development projects. The large majority of our loans are supporting small businesses in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Loans are also given for housing, education and emergency situations. The Microcredit Program provides loans to groups that have difficulties in obtaining loans from major financial institutions, with the aim of empowering the Palestinian community through small loans that may be commercial for small and medium enterprises, or housing and personal loans.