Microgifting, From Community For Community - GENOA Community Call Nov 2023

Can we build economic trust based on intentions and good will? 

Can we have a community where each member contributes towards a cause for a greater good? 

And can we move to a space where that trust and intention surpass the capitalistic outlook of everyday life?

There are change agents among us who believe Yes is the answer to these questions, and they dedicatedly promote a model called Microgifting. 

ChitChat Fund and Maitri Money are outliers in the ever-growing world of financial exploitation. In this month’s community call we will meet Adi Bashal -who is  the founder of ChitChat Fund and works closely with ‘Maitri Money’ a community fund, founded by Deepa.

This is part of the quarterly Community Call at Global Ecovillage Network Oceania & Asia, where we will hear the latest updates about the ecovillage movement in the region as well as dive in a rich conversation about a regenerative topic.

• The event is free and open for everyone
• Register here to get the zoom link

Chit Chat Fund

Chit Chat Fund is redefining the concept of chit funds. Unlike traditional chit funds that profit from community members' financial struggles, Chit Chat Fund upholds a different ethos. It preserves the resource pooling essence but with a significant twist – it shifts from competitive bidding to collective giving. In this innovative model, the community collectively decides to 'gift' a portion of the fund to those members who are in need. Chit Chat Fund stands as a chit fund with a heart, emphasizing support and collective generosity over financial exploitation. 

This innovative fund operates on a simple premise: members pool money through micro-contributions, offering a collective safety net. Every month, a dedicated member takes the role of collecting contributions, ensuring the fund's vitality. Whenever a member, whether for personal or project needs, requires financial assistance, they post their request within the community. Here's the catch – the money isn't a loan; it's given as a heartfelt gift. And what's beautiful is that, when their financial situation improves, members can choose to give back in any way they see fit. 

Maitri Money

At the heart of 'Maitri Money' lies a powerful idea – “Microgifting”.

Maitri Money, the brainchild of Deepa has been making strides to move to a community that regenerates finance without expectation and commitments but through a belief that we bring abundance with goodwill and transparency. Deepa's unwavering trust in beneficiaries and the fund's broad scope address these concerns. Her dream? A world where Microgifting and its principles of radical gratitude, generosity, and mutual support become a global norm, championing benevolence and equality for all, Deepa could not join us today and hence Adil is here to represent ChitChat Fund Maitri Money

About our guest - Adil Bashal

Adil Basha is a facilitator and Media Head at Bhoomi College, India, an alternative educational space for enabling individuals and communities working towards sustainability and holistic education. He is also the co-initiator of Keeday Makauday Foundation, a solidarity collective for youth working in the alternative. He is the founder of Chit Chat Fund, a social insurance fund and works closely with Deepa on the flow fund she founded, Maitri Money.