Over 8,000 beneficiaries in the catchment area of the Odotobiri Rural Bank have received various sums of money to engage in productive activities to better their lives. The financial support intervention for the beneficiaries in the Obuasi Municipality and Amansie Central District is from the UNDP’s Small and Medium Enterprise Programme introduced in 2003, in partnership with 21 banks. Beneficiaries have put up decent accommodation, expanded their farms and are catering for the education at various levels for children who otherwise would have dropped out of school. Odotobiri Rural Bank provided GH¢535,000, while the UNDP topped it up with GH¢70,000 grant to be given out as loans to prospective applicants. The bank’s loan beneficiaries shot up from 884 in 2003 to over 8,000. From initial sums of between GH¢20 and GH¢50, some are now able to access between GH¢100 and GH¢2,000. Some excited beneficiaries appealed to officials of the UNDP and the Odotobiri Rural Bank to further increase the amount so beneficiaries could exploit bigger opportunities. Some of them said previously they were initially described as poor can now afford their wards’ education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Polytechnic and several others in Senior High schools. UNDP Resident Representative to Ghana, Ruby Sandhu-Rojon who has been touring some of its projects across the country was happy about the success so far, and said the testimony from the beneficiaries is an indication of how small amounts can improve the lives of many. According to her, the UNDP as part of its mandate will continue to formulate policies that will help shape the lives of rural and urban dwellers. Story by Ohemeng Tawiah, Nhyira FM, Kumasi/Ghana